ASUU, NASU, SSANU Move To Ground Universities
Following a lack of realistic response to their demands, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have decided to join the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to ground academic activities in public universities. Kolade Adeyemi, Jos, Elo Edremoda, Warri, Damola Kola-Dare Lagos, Bassey Anthony, Uyo, Augustine Okezie, Katsina, Sola Shittu, Gombe, Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt and Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin, report
THE ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have grounded academic activities in public universities, according to The Nation investigations.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the SSANU and NASU on Monday joined the ASUU and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) to cripple activities in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
The unions announced the strike in a joint statement by General-Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim.
The unions announced the strike in a joint statement by General-Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim.
The decisions of the four university-based unions to go on strike has led to a total closure of universities.
The unions have been at loggerheads with the Federal Government, accusing the government of failing to fulfill most of its demands.
The JAC of both unions, in a letter addressed to its branch chairmen, said the strike would be comprehensive and total, saying no concession should be given in any guise.
It referred to a letter addressed to Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, in which the unions accused the Federal Government of failing to respond to its demands as of the time they issued the statement.
JAC, had in a letter addressed to the minister, who is the Conciliator-in-Chief, and dated March 16, 2022, accused the government of insincerity in its implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, and Memorandum of Action, MoA, reached with the government in October 2020 and February 2021.
The letter, signed by SSANU President and the General Secretary of NASU, had given the Federal Government till March 27 to address their demands or face an initial two-week strike.
Some of the demands of the unions are inconsistencies in IPPIS payment, non-payment of Earned Allowances, delay in the renegotiation of FGN/NASU and SSANU agreement, non-payment of Arrears of National Minimum Wage and usurpation of Headship of Non-Teaching Units.
Others are neglect and poor funding of state universities, non-payment of retirement benefits to outgoing members, and non-constitution of visitation panels to universities.
Public varsities grounded in Katsina
The ongoing industrial action has grounded academic activities in public universities in Katsina State
When The Nation visited Federal University Dutsinma and the Katsina State-owned Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, there was an absence of academic activities on the campuses. The campuses were like ghost towns and most offices were empty, except for security men manning their duty posts. The Nation could not also reach out to union officials at the campuses.
Meanwhile, private varsities were running their activities.
The Head, Public Affairs of Alqalam University in Katsina, Malam Akilu Atiku, told The Nation that academic activities were ongoing and that there was no industrial action by academic and non-academic staff.
ASUU, SSANU, NASU ground Gombe State University, others
Activities at the Gombe State University (GSU) and the Federal University, Kachere (FUK) were yesterday brought to a standstill, following the strike.
At the campuses of both universities, faculties and departments were deserted with a few students seen roaming around. All hostels were closed and vehicular movement reduced to almost zero.
None of the academic and non-academic staff were available for comments as their offices were shut. Two lecturers of GSU and FUK, Dr. Friday Abu Ogbole and Dr. Isaac Terwase, who spoke with The Nation on the phone, said they had returned to their families in their home states of Plateau and Benue.
SSANU, NASU shut UNIJOS
The strike embarked upon by SSANU and NASU) members has paralysed activities at the University of Jos. The Nation reporter, who visited the campuses, observed that offices were shut and deserted by members of two unions.
A security man, who pleaded anonymity, said “The two unions embarked on strike on Monday over some pressing issues. As you can see, the place is deserted. All offices are locked. Our duty is to secure this place to prevent unforeseen circumstances from miscreants that could seize the opportunity to invade the institution and wreak havoc,” he said.
At the time of writing this report, motorists and people were being screened at the gate to ascertain their mission to the institution.
The Chairman of the University of Jos SSANU branch, Comrade Anthony Joro, in a chat with The Nation, said: “Here in the University of Jos, the unions are in compliance with the strike. And we had no other option than to comply with the national body’s directive. You can see that other sister unions like ASUU and NAAT are also on strike.
“Actually, there is a monitoring team comprising NASU and SSANU members, and we are going around all the time to make sure that recalcitrant members of the union do not break the strike.”
On the part of the university’s ASUU Chairman, Dr. Lazarus Maigoro, with the commencement of the warning strike by SSANU and NASU, “nothing is happening on the campuses”.
It’s goodnight at UNIPORT
The ongoing strikes have also grounded activities at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
A visit to the institution showed that the campus has lost its usual hustles and bustles due to lack of academic activities.
It was observed that the SSANU and NASU had joined the strike. Their offices were shut when The Nation visited the campus yesterday. Skeletal services were going on as few students moved around.
There was strict compliance with the directive that all branches of NASU and SSANU in the universities should observe the strike.
UNIUYO, AKSU campuses deserted in Akwa Ibom
The University of Uyo (UNIUYO) and the Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) were deserted by students and staff due to the nationwide strike embarked upon by the ASUU, which the UNIUYO and AKSU branches of the union complied with to the latter.
Our correspondent visited the campuses of the UNIUYO as well as the two campuses of the AKSU at Ikot Akpaden, Ikot Enin Local Government Area and Oruk Anam.
At the town campus of the UNIUYO on Ikpa Road, Uyo, it was observed that other gates were shut with a notice, “Use the main gate”, pasted at the gate.
At the main gate of the university, very few persons were seen strolling in and out. No indication of any administrative and academic activities was seen.
UNIUYO ASUU Chairperson Dr. Happiness Uduk said the strike would continue until the Federal Government acceded to the union’s requests.
She said the Federal Government had not kept to the Memorandum of Action it entered into with the union in December 2020.
Action takes toll on UNILORIN
The strike by SSANU and NASU has taken a heavy toll on the activities at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).
The strike entered day two today (Tuesday) with all the offices under lock and key.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the strike is a success at the UNILORIN as there was compliance by members of the two unions in the institution.
Though the movement to and from the campus is unfettered, commercial cab operators have started counting their losses.
SSANU spokesman Segun Alabi told The Nation that the two unions joined the strike on Monday, after their joint congress on the university’s main campus.
“After our resolution to commence the strike, members moved around the campus through to the main gate of the institution to monitor strict adherence to the directive.
“I can tell you that the strike has been a complete and total success at the University of Ilorin. Members have complied by staying away from work.
“We are not picketing anywhere as our members have complied fully with the directive. There is free movement of vehicles to and from the campus,” Mr. Alabi said.
No work, no pay in force at FUPRE
Activities at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State, were nearly grounded yesterday, despite a threat by the Federal Government to withhold the salaries of university staff.
The Nation observed ongoing skeletal activities and movement of persons within the campus during a visit to the school.
The presence of some workers was as a result of workers’ membership in other unions like the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), our correspondent learnt.
When contacted, FUPRE ASUU Chairman Dr. Ezekiel Agbalagba said members were unperturbed by the Federal Government’s latest directive.
“If we can stay for nine months without payment of salaries, I think it’s not a threat. It is just their way of rhetoric. Let them seize salaries, we will continue with what we know is just and right. We will compel the government to do the needful.
“In FUPRE, the strike is absolute, total and comprehensive. The place is virtually grounded. Our members are in compliance with the national ASUU directive,” Agbalagba said.
On his part, Chairman, SSANU, FUPRE branch, Comrade Patrick Esiehor, described the threat as an “empty” one.
“The strike is on and we complied as directed by the national JAC of SSANU and NASU. The threat of ‘no work, no pay’, I think it is an empty threat. Before we embarked on the strike, we followed due process.
“Government was duly communicated and they refused to respond. Failure to respond, we gave two weeks warning. After these two weeks, we will decide what to do further if nothing concrete has been done. Government has been deceitful since 2009,” he said.
Full compliance with action at UNILAG
UNILAG SSANU chapter Chairman Mr. Sowunmi Olusola stated that there is full compliance with the industrial action.
When The Nation reporter visited the campus early on Tuesday, he noted that the students have been asked to vacate the hostels. The campus was calm and there were no activities.
He said: “As you can see, there is total compliance to the strike. We have grounded the university. By tomorrow we will demonstrate.
“A notice has been issued to the students to vacate their hostels. We will lock down everywhere on campus tomorrow.”
A Mass Communication student, Tosin Odunewu, also told The Nation that students seen on campus were volunteers for the just-ended NUGA Games and they have been told to go home.
“Almost all students have gone home. Those around were volunteers in the NUGA Games. By tomorrow, everyone will leave campus. We have been told to go home. There is no activity on campus,” she said.
ATBU joins industrial action
Activities at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi were partially paralysed following the warning strike.
The two unions, under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of ATBU, said they are withdrawing their services following the directives by their national leadership to press home their demands.
Speaking to The Nation in an interview, the State Chairman of the JAC in ATBU, Sulisma Dauda Jatau, said they had no option than to resort to strike as the Federal Government is yet to comply with the MOA it signed with the union since 2020.
Dauda berated the government, saying it seems it is trying to outsmart them since it could not respect simple agreement.
“Yes, we have joined the strike since yesterday. We have chased staff away from the school premises.
Water and electricity have also been disconnected from the school hostel. As it is, all activities have been grounded,” he said.
