A potential crisis that may disrupt academic activities in Nigerian universities is brewing as the federal government’s decision to pay the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) four months of withheld salaries excludes other university-based unions.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has raised concerns over the government’s exclusionary approach.
In a leaked memo dated February 13, 2024, addressed to the chief of staff to the president, Femi Gbajiabiamila, SSANU and NASU warned of potential disruptions to the academic calendar if their members continue to be neglected.
The memo, signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU, and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, President of SSANU, highlighted the injustice faced by non-teaching staff members.
It also criticised the government’s directive to release four months’ salaries exclusively to ASUU members, while neglecting the rights of other unions such as SSANU, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
The letter referenced past strikes initiated by NASU and SSANU to address issues of corporate governance and member welfare, which resulted in prolonged negotiations with the government. Despite assurances from government officials, including the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity and the Minister of Education, promises of equal treatment for all university unions have not been fulfilled.
The memo emphasised that the peaceful atmosphere in universities and inter-university centers could not be guaranteed if the government continued to favor academic staff over non-teaching staff.
NASU and SSANU leaders distanced themselves from any potential disruptions to the academic calendar, placing the responsibility squarely on the government to address the outstanding salary issues promptly and equitably.
The protest letter read, “We write to draw the attention of the Chief of Staff to the President to the privileged information at our disposal that directive has been given to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to direct the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) Office to release four (4) months salaries out of the outstanding salaries owed the members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) excluding other staff who belong to other Unions in the Universities and Inter-University Centres.
“These other Unions are: Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
“Your Right Honourable will recall that in 2022, all the Unions in the Universities and Inter-University Centres embarked on strike action at different times to draw the attention of the government to issues relating to the corporate governance of our universities and welfare of our members.
“The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU embarked on strike that lasted five (5) months from 27th March to 24th August, 2022 as a result of the lackadaisical and unwilling attitude of the then Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, to implement agreements collectively reached with the Joint Unions of NASU and SSANU.
“It is unfortunate that the then Government decided to bring hardship on our members in the University Sector by implementing ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy for four months of May, June, July and August, 2022.
“The strike was foisted on the two Unions due to different unimplemented memoranda with the Government and it was suspended as a result of another Collective Agreement signed on 20th August, 2022, which has not also seen the light of the day. It also contained “no victimisation clause”.
“It is quite unfortunate that in spite of the high hope and aspiration of our members as a result of a press release by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity on 20th October, 2023, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted waiver to the ‘No Work, No Pay’ to ASUU and other educational sector unions….
“We therefore call the attention of this government to the fact that the leadership of NASU and SSANU should not be held liable for any disruption in the academic calendar for the injustice done to our members by the Government as the peaceful atmosphere in our Universities and Inter-University Centres cannot be guaranteed if the Federal Government fails to do the needful by paying our members their 4 months outstanding salaries like Academic staff in the university sector,” the unions said.
