The National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, has said that the union’s members and those of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, embarked on a nationwide strike because they have been pushed to the wall.
Ibrahim made this statement during an interview on Channels Television’s News Track on Monday.
He said the two groups eventually decided to embark on the strike as a last resort, after several attempts and meetings with government officials to resolve the challenges had hit the rocks.
The group commenced an indefinite nationwide strike within campuses of public universities on Sunday, to demand the immediate release of their four months’ withheld salaries.
“We have made several efforts to engage with the government to resolve the situation. Even before the extension we made on the 23rd, there were several extensions given. Recall that this is not a new issue.
“In July, precisely on the 17th, we had several protests in Abuja. Thereafter, NLC took over the matter to the president when they discussed the new minimum wage. It was at that meeting that the president gave the directive that 50 per cent of the four months be paid, which is four months. But three months later, the promise has remained elusive.
“We have had several discussions with the ministers of education, and they assured us but, the promise remains elusive,” he said.
According to him, although the newly appointed minister of education had reached out to him for discussion, however, members of the groups would not back down from the strike until payments were made.
In a statement on Sunday 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 the government, no positive result has come from the government.