Non-teaching staff members of Nigerian universities staged a protest in Abuja on Tuesday, under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). The demonstration highlighted grievances including withheld salaries and unresolved issues despite previous agreements with the federal government.
The protest, which commenced at the University of Abuja’s Gwagwalada campus and culminated at the main campus on Airport Road, saw demonstrators carrying placards demanding immediate attention to their plight. Messages such as “Non-Teaching Staff are Important Stakeholders in the University” and “Pay us our sweat” underscored their frustrations over delayed payments and unmet promises.
Addressing the media, Nurudeen Yusuf, Chairman of JAC Abuja Chapter and SSANU, decried the government’s failure to fulfill obligations dating back to March 2022, when members initially went on strike. Yusuf pointed out that despite assurances during President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 campaign to eradicate strikes and subsequent directives for salary payments, the situation remains unresolved.
“We embarked on this protest to draw attention to issues affecting our welfare and university education, particularly the non-payment of our withheld four months’ salaries,” Yusuf stated. He expressed disappointment over what he termed as the selective implementation of presidential directives, favouring teaching staff over non-teaching counterparts.
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Yusuf warned of escalating actions if the government continues to neglect their demands, hinting at a potential nationwide shutdown of university operations. Urging Ministerial intervention to prevent further disruption to academic activities, he emphasized the need for equitable treatment and fulfilment of agreements to restore trust among university staff.
The protest by non-teaching staff members in Abuja underscores ongoing discontent over unresolved salary issues and perceived unequal treatment compared to academic counterparts. As tensions escalate, stakeholders and government officials are urged to engage constructively to avert further disruptions in university operations nationwide.
“Our hope was renewed with President Tinubu’s promises, but nine months after his directive, we are yet to receive our salaries. This selective implementation undermines our trust in the government’s commitment to education,” emphasized Nurudeen Yusuf.
The protest follows failed negotiations with the federal government over withheld salaries and alleged breach of agreements.
SSANU and NASU further threatened further actions, including potential total shutdowns of universities, if their demands are not met promptly. The also called on the Minister of Education and Minister of Labour and Employment to take immediate action to address the grievances to prevent prolonged disruptions in academic activities.
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