The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities is preparing to hold another National Executive Council meeting due to the government’s failure to fulfill its promise of releasing the withheld salaries of union members. Muhammed Ibrahim, the President of the union, revealed this during an interview in Abuja. The decision to convene the meeting comes after a seven-day warning strike staged by university workers a few weeks ago.
SSANU, along with its sister union, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions, commenced a nationwide strike lasting seven days in protest against the Federal Government’s refusal to release their four-month salaries, which were withheld in 2021 due to their participation in the strike.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had withheld the salaries, invoking the principle of ‘No work, no pay.’ However, the current administration under President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of withheld salaries for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, who were also affected by the previous administration’s ‘no work, no pay’ policy.
In an interview with our correspondent, the leader of SSANU stated, “The government has not made the payment, and we have not received any additional information beyond the earlier assurances. The leadership will soon convene a meeting to discuss our next course of action.”
When asked about the scheduled date for the meeting, Ibrahim added, “Not yet.”