BREAKING: UNIVERSITIES ARE CLOSED AS SSANU AND NASU LAUNCH A NATIONWIDE STRIKE.

The National Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have declared a statewide walkout today over claimed disparities in pay and unjust treatment by the Federal Government.

Prior to today, March 18, 2024, the unions had threatened to shut down the power supply and university residence halls if their demands were not fulfilled.

Vice Chancellors, registrars, and bursars are among the members for whose 2022 arrears have not been paid, according to SSANU National President Muhammad Ibrahim, who spoke previously.

On Sunday, Ibrahim reaffirmed that both unions were ready for the countrywide walkout.

Prof. Tahir Mamman, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, had earlier claimed not to be aware of SSANU/NASU’s planned strike in the midst of these events.

In contrast, Ibrahim stated that the strike had really started when he appeared on Channels Television’s Morning Show.

“Definitely, it (the strike) has already started.

“As of today (Monday), all our workers in registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs have withdrawn their services and nothing moves within the administration of any public university in Nigeria and that will be the case for the next seven days until and unless the needful is done,” the SSANU president stated this morning.

Ibrahim stressed that no government representative has gotten in touch with the non-academic unions. He made the point that even though there has been some informal communication, their promises cannot be fully believed.

He questioned the reasons for some government employees’ partial compliance with President Bola Tinubu’s order to settle the 2022 arrears.

In addition, he stated that Nkiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of Labour, has not contacted the unions that are upset, even after giving them a seven-day notice last Monday.

Ibrahim claims that this lack of responsiveness differs from the strategy used by Chris Ngige, the former labor minister.

He underlined that the unions will use their tactics and decide on the next course of action if the government does not respond to their demands following the start of the seven-day warning strike.