THE Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has directed its members to resume duty immediately after the completion of the seven-day warning strike.
The leadership of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) also directed its members to resume duty and has also given the Federal Government two weeks to pay the withheld salaries.
This is as the House of Representatives Committee on Education has invited the three university-based non-teaching staff unions and the Minister of Education to a meeting on tomorrow.
Recall that NASU and SSANU, through JAC, declared a seven-day warning strike, which started on Monday last week and ended on Sunday over their exclusion in the payment of the four months withheld salaries as directed by President Bola Tinubu, while NAAT also declared a three-day warning strike, which started on Wednesday last week.
Academic and administrative activities were paralysed last week as a result of the strike and examinations in some of the universities were affected.
Besides, university clinics were shutdown, while water supply in universities was also cut, a development that led to students going outside their hostels and university environment in search of water.
But the JAC of SSANU and NASU, in a circular to all branch chairmen, dated March 24, has directed members in the universities and inter-university centres to resume duty.
The circular, titled, ‘Re: Seven Days Warning Strike’ and signed by NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, read, “The leadership of National Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) acknowledge and commend the courage, tenacity, commitment and resoluteness of members of the two unions in effectively prosecuting the seven-day warning strike across the branches.
“After evaluating the seven-day warning strike that commenced on Monday, March 18, the JAC confirmed that the tempo of the warning strike has been massive, comprehensive and total in most of our universities and inter-university centres.
“It, therefore, salutes the dedication, resoluteness and loyalty of members to the cause of the union’s struggle for the payment of four months’ withheld salaries. We are proud of your concerted efforts.
“Consequently, you are hereby informed that the seven-day warning strike shall end at midnight of Sunday, March 24 and normal work will resume on Monday, March 25.
“While assuring you that the struggle for the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries is ongoing, further issues such as renegotiation of year 2009 FGN/NASU and SSANU agreements, payment of N50 billion earned allowances and others will continue to receive the same attention.”
“Therefore, JAC leadership will continue meaningful engagement with the relevant government agencies in both executive and legislative arms and you will be duly notified of the next line of action(s) to be taken.
“Finally, we appreciate your unflinching support and unalloyed cooperation in this regard.”
Meanwhile, the President of NAAT, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, on Sunday, said his association has suspended the warning strike and will be meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Education tomorrow.
Nwokoma said, “We have suspended the strike and directed our members to resume duty immediately. We have also given the government two weeks to pay us the withheld salaries. But if government fails to pay us after the two weeks, we will take a decision on it.”
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