LAGOS — Universities across the country, especially those owned by the Federal Government, were yesterday shut down by non-academic staff, under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions, (NASU).

The action followed the decision of the national leaders of the two unions to call their members out on indefinite industrial action, following the alleged failure of the government to pay them four months of their salaries withheld during the 2022 strike by university workers.

According to figures from the National Universities Commission (NUC), about 2.1 million students studying in the universities would be affected by the strike.

Situation in UNILAG

The branch chairman of SSANU, the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mr. Olugbenga Adenaiya, told Vanguard that the development is in line with the directive from their national leaders.

“This morning (yesterday), we held a congress where our members decided to follow the directive of the national leadership. It was unanimously agreed that the strike would be total and indefinite. We cannot be treated like slaves in our country. Remember that we went on strike early this year and it was suspended because the government promised to pay the withheld salaries, but that has not been the case.

“It is just a matter of continuing the strike we suspended the other time. All offices and essential services provided by SSANU and NASU members have been put on hold until further notice,” he said.

The development came on a day the university was supposed to begin academic activities for the 2024/2025 academic session.

Probably in anticipation of this, the management of the university had earlier said lectures will run online for some weeks.

Activities in limbo at FUTA

Speaking in a telephone chat with Vanguard, the Chairman of SSANU, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, Mr. Felix Adubi, also said non-teaching staff in the institution have heeded the call to go on strike.

“We held our congress this morning (yesterday) and it was resolved that we go on strike as directed by our national body. The government cannot say we have not tried enough. We went on strike, just like the teaching staff also did and you have paid some of the withheld salaries of academic staff and what about us?

“The saying is that, what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. We won’t budge until our demands are met. Government is yet to address some issues raised in our earlier interactions with them, then this discriminatory stance of petting some people and treating others as inconsequential. We are not going to take it easy with them,” he said.

UniAbuja SSANU, NASU in crucial meeting

Members of the two unions at the University of Abuja were on duty and going about their normal activities on Monday despite the nationwide strike declared by the unions’ national bodies.

Recall that the two bodies on Sunday called on members to begin indefinite nationwide strike within campuses of public universities to demand the immediate release of their four months’ withheld salaries.

In a statement co-signed by SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, the two unions said it is appalling that despite several ultimatums issued to government, no positive result has come in.

To this end, they directed their members in all public universities and inter-university centres throughout the country to “hold a joint congress in their respective campuses on Monday, October 28, 2024, and proceed on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike action as no concession should be given in any guise”.

But members of the unions were at work on Monday even as the executive members were seen holding congress, considered to be in adherence to the directive of the national bodies of the unions.

It was learned that the chapters would direct members to proceed on indefinite strike in accordance with the directives of national bodies later.

At the time of filing this report, no strike directives had been issued as members were at their duty posts.

Contacted to comment on the development, the university’s Director of Public Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob, confirmed that the strike had not been declared in the university by the two bodies.

He said, “Well, as I speak with you now, I am in my office and some people are here.

“But you know today (yesterday) is when the University of Abuja branch of SSANU is going to have a congress to formally declare the strike. Now, whether they have eventually declared the strike in line with the directive of the national body or not is not what I can probably share with you because they are still having the meeting. But at the moment, staff are in their various offices working. I’m here with my staff but that is not out of place since they have not formally declared the strike. They are still having a meeting here.”

University of Ilorin to join today

Reports from the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, indicated that the leadership of SSANU and NASU in the institution have agreed to join the industrial action today.

“Yes, the national leaderships of the two unions directed that we should hold a joint congress as from Monday to decide formally on the issue, we are going to be part of the strike as from Tuesday. It does not exclude any university,” a source stated.

Semester exams on hold in BUK

The ongoing semester examinations at the Bayero University, Kano (BUK), have fallen victim to the strike, as investigation by Vanguard has shown.

A source told one of our correspondents that registration of newly-admitted students has been put on hold as well.

“You know that it is members of SSANU and NASU that are in charge of municipal services in the university including the opening of halls where students will write their papers that has stopped. Also, those who want to get academic transcripts have to wait until the strike is called off before anything can be done,” a source told our correspondent.

Situation in the South-East

Because of the Monday sit-at-home being observed in the region, it was not possible to know whether the strike has started or not.

A source at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), told Vanguard that the situation would be clearer on Tuesday.

The source who is a lecturer in the university, added that the strike could affect activities on campus.

“They would want to go on strike, it is about money and I don’t see the possibility of any branch opting out, but things will be clear by Tuesday when normal activities resume in the region,” he said.

SSANU’s National President speaks

The National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, noted in a telephone conversation with Vanguard that since it is an indefinite action, the effects would be pronounced as from today.

“Our branches have started holding congresses with NASU members across the country. That began today, Monday. From Tuesday, the impact will be felt, as those who did not join today are expected to join,” he said.

Recall also that on September 17, 2023, the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU handed the government a three-week ultimatum to pay the outstanding withheld salaries of their members or risk an industrial action.

Prior to that, both unions had staged several protests and warning strikes to protest their withheld salaries by the government.

Recall that in 2022, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), SSANU, NASU and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), went on strike.

ASUU for eight months, SSANU, NASU and NAAT for about five and a half months. However, during the tenure of the immediate past Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, academic staff were paid four months of the withheld salaries, with the promise to also pay others.

Mamman had then said that government would only pay half of the salaries, but nothing has been paid to non-teaching staff up until now, despite presidential directive.

We’re disappointed at SSANU, NASU over strike - FG

Reacting to the strike last night, the Federal Government expressed its disappointment at the two unions.

The government said it expected both unions to exercise restraint in their actions, given the commitment of the current federal administration to finally address their age-long challenges.

Director of Press and Public Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, relayed government’s position in a telephone conversation with Vanguard, saying that the government is unhappy with the unions over their unexpected action, given that it was just last week that it set up a committee to finally address their problems.

According to her, what the government expected of the unions was full cooperation, while the committee worked to achieve the aims it was set up to achieve.

“We, as a government, are disappointed with the unions over their action. This is because it was just last week that we set up a new committee to look into their issues. And with this, it was expected of them to cooperate so that the issues they have been agitating for are addressed once and for all,” she said.