We’ll go on strike when schools reopen – SSANU, NASU

Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have decided to commence on strike as soon as schools reopen.

Samson Ugwoke, Chairman, Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the unions, made the revelation at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

Ugwoke, also SSANU President, and NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, signed the resolution.

They are protesting the lingering Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) debacle, non-payment of overdue debt of earned allowance and minimum wage.

The unions are also feeling resentful over doubtful  lack of seriousness by the Babalakin Committee renegotiating the 2009 FG/NASU, SSANU agreements, poor funding of universities, absence of visitation panels, among others.

Ugwoke made complaints that after many other sectors had been paid minimum wage, university workers were still left out.

“We find this development totally unwholesome. Given the time lag of over a year since it was implemented in other sectors, members of the public would agree that we have been patient enough in the university system.”

The unions claimed that despite series of letters by the IPPIS since February, members were still facing salary issues.

”Pay us the arrears of both earned allowances and minimum wage, among others”, Ugwoke told the government.

He warned that if schools are asked to reopen and the needful was not done, industrial conflict would be unavoidable.