Nigerian universities’ workers suspend nationwide strike for 1 month

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have decided to temporarily suspend their ongoing nationwide strike over unpaid salaries for a one-month period.

The unions, in a joint statement released on Sunday, confirmed that the suspension would be effective starting Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

The statement was signed by NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi and SSANU National President Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim.

The strike began on Monday, October 28, 2024, with the unions citing “government’s insensitivity to the plights of our members in respect of our legitimate demands.”

The statement continued, “The National leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU acknowledges and commends our members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres for their unwavering resolve, unrelenting determination, and steadfast support for the ongoing strike action.”

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It went on to explain that the unions had engaged in “extensive and exhaustive deliberations” with key officials, including the new Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance, and the leadership of the Department of State Services.

“These high-level engagements culminated in an irrevocable commitment from the Federal Government that two months of the four months withheld salaries would be paid in a staggered form—one month by the end of October 2024, and the second month by the end of November 2024,” the statement detailed.

The leadership of JAC, after multiple consultations and what it described as “patriotic considerations,” has directed that the strike be paused for one month. The statement further instructed branch leaders to hold a joint Congress on each campus on Monday, November 4, 2024, to update members and encourage a return to work by Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

The statement also emphasized that discussions on the outstanding issues—including the remaining withheld salaries, the N50 billion Earned Allowances, arrears of 25/35 percent, and the Wage Award—are ongoing.

The unions closed by expressing appreciation for members’ “total commitment and resoluteness” throughout the struggle.