More worries for students as university non-academic staff begin indefinite strike today

The non-academic staff unions of Nigerian universities have announced an indefinite nationwide strike starting today, October 28, 2024, due to the government’s failure to pay four months’ salaries owed to their members since 2022.

The decision was made by the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which includes the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

In their statement, the unions expressed frustration over multiple ultimatums and protests that did not lead to any positive responses from the government.

They called for all members to hold joint congresses on their campuses and commence the strike as a unified front.

Part of the statement read: “We have exercised considerable and prolonged patience, allowing multiple deadlines to pass without receiving a satisfactory response to our demands by the Government.

“In view of this, this is to direct all our members in the universities and inter-university centres throughout the country to hold a joint congress in their respective campuses on Monday, 28th October 2024 and proceed on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike action as no concession should be given in any guise.”

The context of this strike is rooted in ongoing issues regarding salary payments and the implementation of a 2009 agreement between the unions and the government, which has yet to be fulfilled.

Past industrial actions, including an eight-month strike by academic staff in 2022, were also tied to similar grievances. They accused the government of being unresponsive to their repeated requests for resolution.