UNIZIK SSANU, NASU join nationwide seven-day warning strike

Branch members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (NASU) at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Unizik), Awka, Anambra State, have joined the seven-day nationwide warning strike over alleged unfair treatment and disparity in salary payments by the Federal Government.

The Nigerian Tribune had earlier reported that last Monday, the unions threatened to shut down hostels and power supply in universities across the country if the Federal Government failed to meet their demands before today (Monday), March 18, 2024.

The UNIZIK branch secretary of SSANU, Comrade Bonny Ozonkwuaku, who spoke to journalists on behalf of the unions at the university premises while on enforcement, said they are in total compliance with the national directive to observe the seven-day warning strike.

According to the secretary, “As it stands now, all our offices at the Administration block, classrooms, faculties, departments, works and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs units are all under lock and key, and that will be the case for the next seven days unless the needful is done.”

He said, “The government is treating the non-teaching staff with disdain and impunity, and we are saying no to that.

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“Members of the unions have not been paid 2022 arrears.

“What we are beginning today is a fight to survive the present poor economic system in Nigeria.

“We want the federal government to understand what we are going through economically.

“We are also doing this to let President Bola Ahmed Tinubu know that the university system in the country is decaying on a daily basis.”

Comrade Ozonkwuaku stressed that the unions would go back to their toolbox and decide the next line of action should the government fail to heed the unions’ demands after the seven-day warning strike that commenced today, March 18, 2024.