There are indications that three non-academic staff unions of Nigerian universities are set to embark on industrial action. Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are currently on indefinite strike nationwide over non-implementation of the demands, including the 2009 signed agreement between it and the FG.
A major aspect of the issues in contention is the non payment of N880 billion Earned Academic Allowance (EAA). The non-academic staff on the platform of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) had therefore mandated the various branches to conduct referendum to ascertain whether to down tools in protest against non-implementation of their demands by the Federal Government.
JAC made up of the leaders of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) met in Abuja on Wednesday and directed branches to conduct referendum on the impending strike.
SSANU National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abdussobur Salaam, who confirmed the directive, said the various branches of SSANU, NASU and NAAT have up to next week Wednesday to submit the outcome of each congress’ referendum.
He told newsmen on Thursday that they have, “decided to throw back the issues to our members in various branches to take a position.
“I must let you know that our members in SSANU, NASU and NAAT are agitated. JAC gave the various branches up till next week Wednesday to send in the result of the referendum.’
He disclosed that part of the reasons for the proposed strike was the non-implementation of the National Industrial Court (INC) ruling on university staff school teachers and earned allowance of members.
He debunked insinuations that SSANU was following the footstep of ASUU.
“We were the first union to embark on warning strike this year. We only suspended it. If the referendum gives the order, we will only resume from where we stopped in January 2017,’’ he said.
