Government and Unions in Urgent Talks
The Federal Government will hold crucial discussions later today with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) to address the looming threat of a strike.
Ultimatum Deadline Approaches
The urgency of the meeting stems from a two-week ultimatum issued by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU. The unions threatened to shut down universities if the government did not pay their four-month withheld salaries.
Background of the Dispute
In 2022, the Federal Government invoked a ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy during a prolonged strike by four university-based unions. However, President Bola Tinubu granted amnesty to university workers in October last year. He directed the payment of withheld salaries. While the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) received their payments, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT have not. This has created tension and threats of further strikes.
Scheduled Meetings
To address these issues, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has scheduled a meeting with SSANU and NASU at 1 pm today. A source close to the matter revealed that the unions would also meet with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment at 3 pm, following their internal discussions at 10 am.
Tensions Rise Over Unpaid Salaries
The failure to pay the withheld salaries has prompted severe reactions from the unions. They plan to review the government’s response and potentially declare an indefinite strike if the government does not meet their demands, adding pressure on the government to resolve the situation swiftly.
Government’s Response
Today’s meetings will be critical in determining whether the Federal Government can avert a strike. The outcome of these discussions will have significant implications for the stability of the educational sector in Nigeria.
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