THE two non-teaching staff unions operating in Nigeria’s public universities, the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have extended their ongoing industrial action by two months.
This is contained in a circular by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the two unions dated June 21, 2022 obtained by National Record.
NASU and SSANU embarked on strike on April 21, 2022 to press home the implementation of their demands. On May 23rd, JAC extended the industrial action by one month.
In the circular addressed to branch chairmen of both unions, signed by the General Secretary of NASU, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, and the National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, said the negotiation with the federal government team is ongoing but at an exceedingly slow pace.
JAC commended SSANU and NASU members for their sustained compliance with the directive of the National Executive Council (NEC) on the ongoing industrial action, stressing that “the compliance of members, even in the face of the denials of our salaries, threats and harassment, has continued to give the national leadership the needed strength and focus to forge ahead on our demands.”
According to JAC, the success recorded over the payment of the minimum wage consequential adjustment arrears, which members in the university system benefitted, was made possible by the resilience of members of the unions.
The leaders noted that few members across the branches and from the Federal Universities of Agriculture are yet to be paid, stating, “JAC is not resting on its oars and shall ensure these omissions are resolved.”
Comrades Adeyemi and Ibrahim pledged to follow up on the resolution reached with the government at the tripartite meeting held on Thursday, May 2022 to test the SSANU and NASU new salary platform, University Peculiar Personnel and Payroll System (U3PS) software with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
JAC explained that the three payment solutions; U3UP, UTAS and IPPIS are currently being subjected to tests in the last three weeks.
They noted that “while there has not been any final report, we are proud to inform you that our presentations have been brilliant and impressive.”
According to the circular, the U3PS has been conceived to cater for all salary tables and allowances operational in the university system and that there is no reason to fear exclusion by any group within the system.
According to JAC, the two unions have recorded success in the restoration of Responsibility Allowance to deserving members of NASU and SSANU as well as the correction of the payment of the Hazard Allowance from N180,000 to N360,000 per annum to SSANU members in the document.
The union leaders observed that there has been no commitment of government to pay the arrears of Earned Allowances being owned non-teaching staff.
“In view of the fact that government is still a long way from effectively resolving the issues in contention, it is only expedient that we allow the process to be fully concluded before directing the end of the strike.
“Consequently, you are hereby informed that the strike has been extended by two months, within which we are hoping that all the contentious issues would have been effectively laid to rest. The two months extension is with effect from Friday, 24th June 2022.
“We urge you to keep up the spirit across the branches as we are slowly inching close to victory. We also urge you to disregard various rumours and misinformation especially on social media and rely on your national leaders who are ever willing to give factual and true information on the status of the struggle,” the circular reads.
