UNN NASU/SSANU join nationwide protest over withheld salaries
2 min read
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) chapter on Tuesday protested federal government continue withholding of their members four months salaries and other unresolved issues.
The two unions under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) said that the warning protest became necessary due to the federal government’s inability to pay the withheld salaries since 2022 as well as make a concrete commitment in resolving other grievances of the unions.
The unions’ members had as early as 9:00 am gathered at the Margret Ekpo Convocation arena from where they marched to the UNN Administrative block and ended up in UNN Freedom Square.
They chanted solidarity songs and bore placards with different inscriptions such as;
“FG, pay our members withheld four months salaries, FG, pay us our national minimum wage, FG, honour agreement reached with our national body, Hold FG responding if non-teaching staff embark on an indefinite nationwide strike in public universities, among others.
The Chairmen of SSANU and NASU in UNN Comerade Linus Akata and Comerade Ekene Amu (respectively) led the protest.
Speaking, Akata said it was unfortunate that government had refused to implement all agreements with the national JAC including the Memorandum of Action (MoA) it signed.
He said on July 18 all the executives of SSANU and NASU would gather in Abuja to picket relevant government offices responsible for non-payment of the 4 months’ withheld salaries.
“In several meetings government has had with national JAC, it promised to pay non-teaching staff in public universities the withheld four months salaries but unfortunately government has failed to match their words with actions.
“FG even signed an MoA with our national leaders in that regard, but up to date, nothing has been done to that effect.
“The general public should hold government responsible if SSANU and NASU proceed to nationwide indefinite strike because government fails to do the needful,” he said.
He commended members of SSANU and NASU of UNN for coming out in their numbers to participate in the protest, adding that it was a directive from the national leadership of JAC.
Also speaking, comrade Amu, NASU-UNN Chairman said “This protest is a note of warning to the federal government and to express our readiness for a full-blown strike action if FG fails to do the needful.
“NASU and SSANU have explored and exhausted all legal processes to avert the impending strike but the federal government has not shown any convincing commitment to the payment of the withheld salaries and addressing resolutions of other pending grievances of the two unions.
“I urge members to remain resolute and brace up for the inevitable as we await further directive from our national body,” he said.
