* Paralyze administrative, social services at UNN, UNILORIN, UNIZIK, others
Members of the Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) and their Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) counterparts have begun a 7-day warning strike in compliance with the directive of the joint national leadership of the unions.
The strike, which started today (Monday, March 18, 2024), paralyzed activities in the university system, particularly the health unit, bursary department, works and planning as well as registry among others.
At the University of Ilorin on Monday, executives of the two unions held a congress at about 8.00am at the main gate of the main campus, where the strike was declared.
Executive members of the union addressed the members on the essence of the warning strike meant to fight for their welfare, particularly the withheld eight months’ salaries by the Federal government.
Chairman of the university branch of NASU, Ibrahim Zubair, said after the declaration of the strike at the congress, the union members were asked to go back home and not report for duty until after the duration of the 7-day warning strike.
Similarly, members of both unions at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, joined the seven-day nationwide warning strike over alleged unfair treatment and disparity in salary payments by the Federal government.
The UNIZIK branch secretary of SSANU, Comrade Bonny Ozonkwuaku, who spoke to journalists on behalf of the unions at the university premises while on enforcement, said they are in total compliance with the directive from their national office to observe the seven-day warning strike.
“As it stands now, all our offices at the Administration block, classrooms, faculties, departments, works and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs units are all under lock and key, and that will be the case for the next seven days unless the needful is done,” Ozonkwuaku said
He added: “The government is treating the non-teaching staff with disdain and impunity, and we are saying no to that.
“Members of the unions have not been paid 2022 arrears.
“What we are beginning today is a fight to survive the present poor economic system in Nigeria.
“We want the federal government to understand what we are going through economically.
“We are also doing this to let President Bola Ahmed Tinubu know that the university system in the country is decaying on a daily basis.”
Comrade Ozonkwuaku stressed that the unions would go back to their toolbox and decide the next line of action if the government fails to honour the unions’ demands after the seven-day warning strike that commenced today, March 18, 2024.
The situation was not different at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where administrative activities were paralyzed following the strike.
The unions clarified that the aim of the warning strike is to protest the Federal government’s failure to pay members four months withheld salaries during their strike in 2022.
Addressing members during an emergency congress in UNN, Dr. Linus Akata, Chairman of SSANU-UNN flanked by Comrade Ekene Amu, Chairman of NASU-UNN, said that the emergency congress aimed to tell their members about the seven-day nationwide warning strike declared by JAC.
Akata said the strike would be total and comprehensive in UNN, in total adherence and compliance with the directive of the national leadership.
He said that all the administrative offices and essential service sections of the university are under lock and key.
The union leader warned that they would deal decisively with any member found defaulting or sabotaging the warning strike.
He said: “Members are directed to go home immediately after this congress and stay away from work until the 7-day warning strike ends, as any defaulting member will be decisively dealt with.
“This warning strike is total and comprehensive as the administrative block of the UNN, offices, works department, University Medical Centre, University Primary School, and others have been shut down till the end of the strike.
“There will be no water and electricity supply from the university hostels, also internet facilities from the university have been shut down for the period as we have directed our members working in these places to go home,” he added.