More trouble looms for universities as NASU, SSANU, NAAT issue strike alert

The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have issued a strike notice alert that would totally shut down academic activities across the country’s tertiary institutions. 

The unions however urged the Federal government to urgently take immediate action to resolve and importantly meet its obligations as stated in the agreements reached with the unions. 

In the same vein, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), has also threatened to go on strike if urgent resolution is not given to pending issues stated in already existing agreements reached with the government. 

Rising from a meeting held on Thursday 24 February 2022, in Abuja, JAC in a statement jointly signed by Comrade Peters Adeyemi and Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim, the General Secretary of NASU and National President of SSANU, respectively, said; “we can no longer guarantee industrial peace In our university system. With this release. We place all Nigerians on red alert of the possibility of an industrial action by the non-teaching staff unions of NASU and SSANU, as we can no longer watch as agreements freely entered Into by the Federal Government with the Unions are not respected.

“Having waited one whole year for the consummation of the Memorandum of Understanding and despite all peaceful entreaties, we wish to notify all stakeholders in the Nigerian universities and Inter-University Centres; and indeed all Nigerians of the possible breakdown of Industrial peace in the university system borne out of disrespect for Collective Bargaining Agreements reached with NASU and SSANU by Government”

Furthermore, the statement said; “JAC noted that the January 2021 industrial action was preceded by a Memorandum of Action In October 2020 which highlighted the following:  Inconsistencies in IPPIS Payment, Non-Payment of Earned Allowances, Delay in Renegotiation of FGN/NASU and SSANU Agreement, Non-Payment of Arrears of National Minimum Wage, Usurpation of Headship of Non-Teaching Units in clear violation of Conditions of Service and Establishment Procedures, Neglect and Poor Funding of State Universities, Non-Payment of Retirement Benefits to Outgoing Members Non~ConstItution of Visitation Panel to Universities.

“We wish to make it public that till date, except for the constitution of visitation panels whose white papers are yet to see the light of the day, none of the issues as agreed in the October 2020 and February 2021 Memorandum of Action have been Implemented. 

“The attendant problems of the Integrated Payment Personnel System (IPPIS) remain unabating as our members are still being paid salaries haphazardly. The untold suffering of our members due to the disorganized payment of salaries is further compounded by the unpredictable remittance of Third Party deductions Union Check-Off Dues, Cooperative Societies. Welfare Schemes, Bank Loans among others.

“While we had agreed that a sum of thirty billion naira should be made available for the payment at arrears of Earned Allowance for the three non-teaching unions, we had an embarrassing situation where only 25% of a sum of Twenty-Two Billion Naira was paid to the non-teaching staff in a disbursement made in December 2021 , which has only caused further confusion and dissatisfaction in the University System.

“Till date, despite all entreaties. the arrears of National Minimum Wage being owed our members is yet to be paid.”

On its part, NAAT in a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Hon. Ibeji Nwokoma, and made available to journalists on Friday 25 February 2022, in Abuja said; “Going by the Government continued insensitivity to the genuine yearnings/agitations and demands of members of National Association of Academic Technologists over many burning issues in the area of re-positioning the laboratories/Workshops/ Studios in the Nigerian Public Universities and the near total neglect of the welfare of members of our Union. The Union is being compelled by the Government through its activities and dispositions to embark on what may turn out to become a total and indefinite industrial action.”

The reasons necessitating it proposed strike according to NAAT are: “Non-full implementation of the 2009 FGN/NAAT Agreement, The refusal to release the enabling circular for the implementation of CONTISS 14 & 15 for Academic Technologists as contained in the MOU of 2017, 2020 and 2021

“Non-payment of Earned Allowance (EA) for our members – specifically as agreed in the MOU of 2021 that subsequent release of EA shall be Union based and subsequent sharing shall be based on template generated from signed agreement of each Union and not number of persons in each Union or personnel cost, Delay in Renegotiation of FGN/NAAT 2009 Agreement.

“Non-payment of arrears of National Minimum Wage, Non-release of adequate Laboratories/ Workshops and Studios Rehabilitation Fund Others include the following: The deplorable condition of laboratories/ Workshops/ Studios in Nigerian Universities, The near comatose of laboratory equipment and accessories, The neglect of infrastructural facilities in the laboratories/ Workshops and Studios.

“Non-provision of intervention funds for equipment procurement and training of laboratory end-users of equipment, the Academic Technologists, Mismanagement/Misapplication of limited funds by University Administrators whenever they are provided, Non-employment to replace the retired Academic Technologists in some Universities with young ones, Need to halt brain drain due to poor remuneration and deplorable working condition.

“In the light of the above, failure on the part of the Government to address all the issues raised above, NAAT may be compelled to embark on an industrial action which shall be total and indefinite.

“NAAT, therefore, calls on all well-meaning Nigerians (Traditional rulers, Religious leaders, members of the National Assembly, etc) to prevail on Government to avert the looming strike action.”