Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Bayero University Kano (BUK) branch, have staged a peaceful protest over what they described as the Federal Government’s persistent neglect of their welfare and contractual agreements.
The protest, organised under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), was part of a coordinated national action across universities and inter-university centres following the expiration of a fourteen-day ultimatum issued to the government on October 6.
Addressing newsmen after the protest, the National President of SSANU, Comrade Muhammad Haruna Ibrahim, expressed deep frustration over what he termed the government’s deliberate refusal to address the unions’ legitimate concerns.
He listed the issues fueling the unrest to include the alleged unfair disbursement of ₦50 billion in earned allowances, failure to renegotiate the 2009 FGN/NASU-SSANU agreement, non-payment of two months’ withheld salaries, and non-remittance of third-party deductions for May and June 2022.
Others are the non-payment of arrears of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases approved for the unions, and outstanding earned allowances.
Comrade Haruna, represented by the Vice President of SSANU North West Zone, Comrade Sabo Balarabe Wudil, noted that despite several letters and meetings, the government has failed to make any tangible progress, adding that the unions are now left with no option but to escalate their actions.
“We have been patient for too long. Our members are struggling to survive while government officials continue to ignore our plight.
If nothing is done, we will have no choice but to take more decisive action,” he warned.
Also speaking, the JAC Chairman, Comrade Mustapha Aminu, said the protest was not just about wages, but also about fairness, dignity, and respect for agreements freely entered into by both parties.
Comrade Aminu, who doubles as the SSANU BUK Branch, said “the union leadership at BUK had presented their grievances to the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Musa, for onward transmission to the Federal Government.”
Receiving the protesters, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Musa, commended the unions for conducting themselves peacefully.
The VC, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Development), Prof. Amina Mustapha, assured them that “their concerns will be communicated to the appropriate quarters.”
The Joint Action Committee, in a circular dated October 6 and signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, NASU General Secretary, and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU National President, had instructed all branches to commence protest actions and ensure active participation of members.
According to the circular titled “Commencement of Protest Actions,” the unions are to hold joint meetings, organise campus marches, display placards conveying their grievances, and engage the media through press briefings to amplify their message.
The protest at BUK witnessed a large turnout of union members who carried banners and chanted solidarity songs demanding the immediate intervention of the Federal Government.
As the ultimatum expires, both unions have vowed to intensify their struggle, warning that they will not hesitate to embark on a nationwide strike if the government continues to ignore their demands.
