The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, have reaffirmed the suspension of their planned indefinite nationwide strike earlier scheduled to begin on May 11.
SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja, saying the decision followed appeals and assurances from the Federal Government Expanded Tertiary Institutions Renegotiation Committee.
According to Ibrahim, the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU has given the federal government a two-week window to conclude the renegotiation process and sign the necessary agreements.
“We are giving a two-week window to conclude the renegotiation exercise and sign agreements as promised,” he said.
The unions had on May 1 directed members to prepare for an indefinite nationwide strike over unresolved welfare and labour issues. However, they agreed to suspend the action after government representatives assured them that negotiations would be concluded within the agreed period.
Ibrahim said the suspension was temporary and conditional, warning that failure by the government to meet the deadline could trigger fresh industrial action.
“We will closely monitor the negotiations within the two-week window. All outstanding issues must be resolved without further delay,” he said.
The unions’ demands include the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, review of salary structures, full implementation of collective bargaining outcomes, improved welfare conditions, payment of outstanding allowances and arrears, and rejection of what they described as unilateral salary offers, including a reported 30 percent increase.
The latest development offers temporary relief to students, parents and university administrators who feared another disruption to academic activities across public universities.
SSANU and NASU have repeatedly accused the federal government of delaying implementation of agreements reached with non-academic university workers. The unions argue that their members continue to face poor welfare conditions, unpaid entitlements and exclusion from key benefits extended to other categories of university staff.
While the suspension has averted an immediate shutdown, the two-week deadline places fresh pressure on the government to conclude negotiations and sign binding agreements.
Unless the outstanding issues are resolved within the timeline, the unions have warned that members may resume mobilisation for nationwide industrial action.
