Again, NASU, SSANU extend strike by two months

The strike by the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, has been extended for another two months, Charmingpro reports 

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The extension was contained in a circular sent to the two unions’ branch chairmen and made available to newsmen in Ilorin on Friday.

The NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters. A. Adeyemi, and Mohammed. N. Ibrahim signed the circular dated June 21, 2022.

The circular acknowledged some successes on the issues at hand, but stated that “in light of the fact that government is still a long way from effectively resolving the issues at hand, it is only expedient that we allow the process to be fully concluded before directing the end of the strike.”

“As a result, you are hereby notified that the strike has been extended by two months, during which we hope to have effectively resolved all contentious issues.”

“The two-month extension will take effect on Friday, June 24, 2022,” the circular stated.

It stated that the JACs of NASU and SSANU had achieved success in the payment of minimum wage consequential adjustment arrears, from which all staff in the University system benefited.

“We have also achieved success in restoring Responsibility Allowance to deserving NASU and SSANU members, as well as in correcting the payment of Hazard Allowance from N150,000 to N360,000 per annum to deserving members in the SSANU document.”

“However, the government has made no commitment to pay the arrears of Earned Allowances owed to our members,” the circular stated.

“We have continued to follow up on the resolution reached with the government at the Tripartite Plus meeting on Thursday, May 12th, 2022, regarding the testing of our University Peculiar Personnel and Payroll System (U3PS) software with the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA.”

“The three payment solutions, U3PS, UTAS, and IPPIS, are currently undergoing daily tests that have lasted three weeks and are still ongoing,” the circular added.

The circular thanked union members for sustaining the strike action in the face of salary denials, threats, and harassment, saying it provided the national leadership with the necessary strength and force to press ahead with the demands.

It urged them to maintain the spirit across the branches, saying, “as we are gradually inching closer to victory, disregard various rumours and misinformation, particularly on social media, but rely on the national leaders for factual and true information on the status of the ongoing struggle.”