SSANU Threatens To Go On Strike, Shut Down Public Universities In Nigeria

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has threatened to go on strike, in protest of government failure to fulfill agreements with the union.

The SSANU threat is coming a few days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared a one-month total strike across public universities in Nigeria.

The National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, told journalists in Abuja on Sunday that the union initially held back on resuming strike action out of consideration for Nigerian students but the federal government has pushed members against their will due to its failure to attend to demands.

As part of their demands, SSANU wants the Universities Peculiar Personnel Payroll System (UPPPS) to replace the government-designed Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The union also wants the federal government to implement the 2009 agreement with its members and review the agreement as agreed.

SSANU said in the next few days, it will meet with the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and take a decision on the proposed strike action.

Ibrahim said, “It was agreed that the 2009 Agreement should be reviewed every three years but 12 years after, not even 50 per cent was implemented.

“Part of the areas we have agreed for review are the Responsibility Allowances for heads of departments, Hazard Allowances, Call/Shift Duty Allowances for Nurses, Doctors, Engineers etc and Overtime Allowances. They should invite us immediately for the renegotiation.

“Another of our major concern is the payment of the minimum wage arrears. They told us that they have budgeted for it and that we should submit the necessary requirements which we complied with but yet, nothing has been done.

“We (leadership of SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions) are going to meet in a few days to take our position.

“We have been reluctant to shut down universities because of its effect on the education system, students and parents but it appears that our peaceful disposition to resolve issues amicably is being taken for granted by the government.

“Remember it is just resumption, we only suspended the strike to allow government implement the Memorandum of Action and we can resume anytime.”