FG, striking varsity workers’ talks deadlock as shutdown worsens nationwide

ABUJA/JOS—The meeting between the Federal Government and the non-academic staff in the nation’s public universities yesterday ended in a deadlock as the nationwide strike by members Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, continued to paralyse public universities across the country.The industrial action is being coordinated by Joint Action Committee, JAC, of SSANU, and NASUVanguard gathered that the meeting will continue today by 3 p.m. for further discussions.

The indefinite strike has crippled activities in public universities, shutting down clinics, administrative blocks, hostels and academic support services nationwide.

The University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, has already postponed its e-examinations due to the ongoing industrial action, while workers at the University of Jos, UNIJOS, on Monday staged a peaceful protest over unresolved welfare issues and delays in the renegotiation of agreements with the Federal Government.

The strike, which began on April 30, followed the expiration of a one-month ultimatum issued by SSANU and NASU to the government to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with non-teaching staff unions.

The unions rejected the Federal Government’s unilateral 30 per cent salary increase, insisting on a 40 per cent adjustment and accusing the government of failing to follow the collective bargaining process required by labour laws.

Sources at Monday’s meeting said government representatives explained the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of the earlier 30 per cent offer and appealed to the unions to suspend the strike while efforts continued to resolve the issues.

However, the union leaders reportedly declined to make such a commitment without consulting their respective organs, leading to the adjournment of the meeting.

Speaking earlier on the strike, SSANU National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, described the industrial action as a total shutdown with full compliance nationwide.

Related News
FG, SSANU, NASU meeting ends in deadlock, continues Tuesday
SSANU, NASU strike grounds varsities nationwide, Unimaid postpones exams
Breaking: SSANU, NASU begin strike May 1
“It’s very effective — total shutdown for now,” Ibrahim said. “All clinics, administrative blocks, hostels, departments, faculty offices, admin offices, finance offices, even those providing so-called essential services, have been ordered to withdraw.”

He maintained that the unions were demanding fairness and equity, stressing that the minimum benchmark for negotiation remained a 40 per cent increase.“Our position remains the same: we’ve asked for equity”.

“, consideration and fairness, so nothing has changed,” he said. “We will go and listen to them at the meeting, but the strike is on.”

In a memo issued by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, UNIMAID said the postponement of examinations became necessary because of the strike.

“In view of the non-teaching staff strike, the above exams will be rescheduled until the current strike is suspended,” the directive signed by the Exams and Time-Table Coordinator, Prof. Dani Mamman, stated.

At UNIJOS, members of NASU and SSANU marched from the university’s main gate to the Senate Building, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards to press home their demands.

SSANU Chairperson at UNIJOS, Anthony Jauro, criticised what he described as disparity in staff welfare and delays in addressing the concerns of non-teaching staff.

“Our advice to government is that creating division among staff welfare in the university system is not good. Why create disparity? Are you trying to create a crisis?” he asked.

He said while negotiations with some unions had been concluded earlier in the year with partial implementation, others were still being neglected.

Also speaking, NASU Chairperson at UNIJOS, Monday Danjuma, accused the Federal Ministry of Education of bias in its dealings with university unions.

“My call is that the Federal Government should do the needful. We want them to know that the Minister of Education is taking sides and creating division within the university system,” Danjuma said.

The unions insisted that the strike would continue until their demands were met and negotiations on the 2009 agreement were fully concluded.

Source Vanguard