The Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, of educational and associated institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, have suspended their nationwide indefinite strike.
NASU and SSANU had declared a nationwide strike for a month over withheld salaries.
In a joint statement on Sunday, the bodies said the suspended strike would take effect on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
The statement was signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of SSANU.
The statement reads: “The national leadership of the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of NASU and SSANU acknowledges and commends our members in the universities and inter-university centres for their unwavering resolve, unrelenting determination and steadfast support for the ongoing strike action.
“You will recall that the ongoing strike action foisted on us commenced on Monday, October 28, 2024, as a result of government’s insensitivity to the plights of our members in respect of our legitimate demands
“During this industrial struggle, we have had several extensive and exhaustive deliberations with the officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria, including the new Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance, the outgoing Minister of State for Education, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the leadership of the Department of State Services
“These high-level engagements culminated in extracting an irrevocable commitment from the Federal Government that the 2 months of the 4 months withheld salaries would be paid in staggered form, one month by the end of October 2024 (which has largely been done), then the second month is to be paid by the end of November 2024.
“Arising from the above and in view of the level of commitment exhibited by the new minister and the leadership of the Department of State Services, the leadership of JAC, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing indefinite strike be suspended for one month, effective Tuesday, 5th November 2024.
“Branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint congress in their respective campuses on Monday, 4th November 2024 and intimate members of these developments and urge them to resume work on Tuesday, 5th November 2024.
“We wish to also reiterate that discussions on the remaining two months, the N50 billion earned allowances, arrears of 25/35 per cent and the wage award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations.”