Metro

Withheld salaries: SSANU, NASU protest in Lagos, accuse FG of marginalisation

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of the University of Lagos branch in Akoka staged a peaceful protest on campus on Tuesday.

The protest was a sequel to a directive from the national bodies of the two unions under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JJAC) directing all members nationwide to stage a one-day protest as a warning over the non-release of their withheld four-month salaries by the Federal Government.

Led by their leaders, the protesting workers converged at the University Senate Building area, from where they marched down to the main gate, chanting solidary songs.

They also carried placards bearing different inscriptions, including “FG release our withheld four-month salaries,” “We’re tired of suffering and smiling,” and so forth.

Addressing the newsmen, the National Vice President of SSANU, Dr Abdussobur Salaam, lamented that despite a series of previous appeals and a warning strike several months ago, the Federal Government did not bother to show serious concern for the unions’ demands, let alone meet them.

He noted that most of the issues in contention date back to 2009, when the government signed an agreement with them, and up until now, only a few have been attended to in an unsatisfactory manner.

He described the situation as unfortunate on the part of the government, which he accused of a lack of sensitivity to the plight of workers.

He said it was even unheard of that the same withheld four-month salaries since 2022, which is the most pressing issue for them at the moment, had been paid to members of other sister unions in the same system, saying the action is discriminatory.

He declared that the next stage of the protest would be picketing some government offices in Abuja, suspected of being involved in holding tight to their salaries.

He pointed out that the Abuja protest if the government still failed to pay the withheld salaries, would determine the next action to take, and it may be a nationwide strike by the members.

The chairman of the NASU branch of the university, Yinka Abiodun, also accused the federal government of marginalising their members on matters concerning the general staff of the universities, condemning the practice in its entirety.

In his own contribution, the SAANU acting chairman of the branch, Gbenga Adenaiya, said they are not willing to withdraw their services from the university, but they may be compelled to do so if the government fails to pay them their withheld salaries.

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