Academic activities in several universities across Nigeria have been disrupted following a nationwide strike embarked upon by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
University of Abuja:
In the University of Abuja, the protesting JAC members blocked all entrances to the university gates, preventing both academic and non-academic staff from accessing the premises.
According to Comrade Nureden Yusuf, the University of Abuja branch chairman of SSANU, the protest aims to draw attention to the injustice done to SSANU and NASU in the payment of four months withheld salaries approved by President Bola Tinubu in October last year. The protesters demand the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and the reconstitution of governing councils.
Ondo State:
The Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU in Ondo state joined their counterparts nationwide in the strike, demanding the payment of four months withheld salaries during the 2022 strike. The strike affected various institutions, including the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), where administrative offices and essential service sections were shut down.
Taraba:
In Taraba, the SSANU and NASU of Federal University, Wukari, participated in the strike, leading to the shutdown of administrative activities and the closure of the institution’s exit gate.
University of Jos:
The University of Jos witnessed a total shutdown as SSANU and NASU members barricaded entrances to different campuses, leaving staff and students stranded. The strike action is in obedience to the seven-day warning strike declared by the unions’ national leadership.
Enugu:
At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), SSANU and NASU members joined the nationwide warning strike to protest the Federal Government’s failure to pay four months withheld salaries during the 2022 strike. Administrative activities were paralyzed as offices, works department, medical center, and primary school were shut down.
The unions have warned that the strike would be comprehensive and total until their demands are met. They urge the government to resolve the issues promptly to avoid further disruption of academic activities in public universities.
Students express concern over the potential impact on the academic calendar and appeal to the government for swift resolution.