The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have decided to halt their planned indefinite strike.
This decision follows widespread protests across the country addressing issues of hunger and governance failures.
On July 18, the two unions, through their Joint Action Committee (JAC), initiated a national protest, submitting demands to the Ministries of Education and Labour for the release of four months’ worth of withheld salaries.
They had warned of an indefinite strike if their demands were not met.
The timing of their protest aligned with a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and labour leaders from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During this meeting, the issue of withheld salaries was raised, and the President instructed that the payments be made.
Despite the President’s directive, no payments were made by the end of the one-week deadline, which coincided with threats of nationwide protests by youth groups.
In response, the unions have chosen to postpone their indefinite strike, citing concerns that their cause might be overshadowed by the broader national protests, potentially diminishing their visibility and impact.
In a circular sent to NASU and SSANU branch chairpersons, JAC acknowledged the expired deadline but concluded that pursuing the strike at this time might dilute their focus.
The circular, signed by NASU’s General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi and SSANU’s President Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, emphasized the need to monitor the situation and decide on further actions post-national protests to ensure their demands receive proper attention and media coverage.
