Nigerian naira banknotes are seen in this picture illustration
Reuters

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) began a strike on Monday over salaries being withheld by the federal government.

Nigeria Labour Congress National President Joe Ajaero urged the government to immediately release the four months' worth of withheld salaries of SSANU and NASU. The strike began after giving a seven-day warning, which led to halting activities in universities nationwide.

The salaries were stopped by the government because, during a strike in 2022, former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration implemented a "No Work, No Pay policy," withholding the salaries of NASU and SSANU members.

"We join our affiliate unions, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities in demanding the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of their members," Ajaero issued a statement, Punch reported.

"There has been no credible reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place. Much worse, it defies logic to try to subject members of these unions to discriminatory treatment. By so doing government is courting avoidable industrial disputes."

Ajaero stressed that the government must avoid causing another strike when confidence was being rebuilt in public universities. The impact on everyone involved, especially students and parents who face risks traveling on dangerous roads, will be too much to bear, he added.

He also encouraged the government to quickly pay the outstanding payment, adding that it was vital to appreciate the maturity shown by these unions and not underestimate it.

National President of SSANU Muhammed Ibrahim pointed out that all the members are angry and the government should understand the reality, particularly when it comes to education in the country.

"The president already has a waiver that we should be paid but some people decided not to pay us," he said. "They feel we are lesser mortal or not important or they think university is all about ASUU only. They should understand that it is a recipe for trouble."

He added, "When they don't have water on campus or no electricity, we remove the security personnel from the gate and our students are on campus, then they will know it is a terrible issue."

SSANU first threatened the government to protest in February if the withheld salaries of its members were not paid.