The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions have suspended the indefinite nationwide strike they commenced last week following fresh assurances from the Federal Government.
SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, disclosed this during an interview in Abuja on Sunday, saying the unions agreed to halt the industrial action after appeals by the Federal Government’s Expanded Tertiary Institutions Renegotiation Committee.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU had on May 1 directed members nationwide to embark on an indefinite strike over unresolved welfare and salary issues affecting university workers.
According to Ibrahim, the suspension of the strike is conditional, as the unions have given the Federal Government a two-week deadline to conclude and sign all renegotiated agreements.
“We are giving a two-week window to conclude the renegotiation exercise and sign agreements as promised,” he said.
He explained that the government committee assured the unions that the renegotiation process would be completed within the stipulated period.
Ibrahim noted that the decision to suspend the strike was based on what he described as firm commitments from the government, warning that failure to meet the agreed timeline could trigger another round of industrial action.
“We will closely monitor the negotiations within the two-week window. All outstanding issues must be resolved without further delay,” he added.
The unions are demanding the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, a review of salary structures, and full implementation of collective bargaining agreements.
Other demands include improved welfare packages, payment of outstanding allowances and arrears, as well as opposition to what they described as unilateral salary adjustments, including the reported 30 per cent increase proposal by the government.
The development is expected to bring temporary relief to public universities across the country, many of which have faced repeated disruptions due to industrial disputes involving academic and non-academic staff unions.
