Non-teaching staff of federal universities across Nigeria are set to stage a nationwide protest on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, to voice their grievances over unpaid salaries and other unresolved issues. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have jointly announced this action in response to what they perceive as the government’s lack of commitment to addressing their concerns.
In a circular dated July 4, 2024, addressed to all branch chairmen and signed by SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, the unions stated, “All branches of NASU and SSANU should mandatorily hold a general meeting on Monday, 8th July, 2024 to sensitise members on the insensitivity of government to our plights.”
The circular further directed, “A one-day protest should hold on Tuesday, 9th July, 2024 at each branch simultaneously. Every branch should ensure that all members fully participate in the protest and the media is adequately mobilised.”
The Explainer learned,the unions’ primary grievance centers around four months of withheld salaries, alongside other pending issues.
They claim that meetings with government officials, including the Minister of Education and representatives from the National Universities Commission (NUC), have failed to yield positive outcomes.
“It is also disheartening that the JAC was also at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and as usual, the minister of state was not on seat to receive us, as we were informed that she had an urgent call from the villa,” the unions expressed their frustration.
Following the nationwide protest, the unions plan to hold a national protest in Abuja on Thursday, July 18, 2024. After this demonstration, both unions will convene to determine a date for potential strike action.
