The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has lamented the death of over 100 members due to the non-payment of their four months’ salaries during the 2022 strike by the four university-based unions.
SSANU has also criticised the new ministers for not hitting the ground running as directed by President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking in his remarks at the 45th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, the National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, regretted that the union was yet to get any circular concerning the recent approval of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary review for workers in higher institutions in the country.
SSANU further frowned at the Federal Government’s delay in concluding the 2009 renegotiation agreement and advised the government to complete it without further delay.
According to Ibrahim, “We lost over 100 members as a result of the government’s inability to pay our members their four months’ salary.
“Some of them could not meet up with their medical needs. We will not forfeit our salaries because it is our right and the money has been budgeted for.
“The refusal to pay the withheld salary is anti-labour, inhuman because if it’s claimed that we went on strike, our strike was legal and it followed all due processes and protocols.
“We did not wake up to go on strike; we wrote, and we were discussing, and it was because we got stampeded and the government withdrew from our discussions, and we were pushed to the wall, and the labour laws also give us the right to withdraw our services, this was exactly what we did.
“We didn’t break anybody’s head; we didn’t violate any law. Our money has to be released for peace to reign.”
The association, in its communique, said, “NEC in session for the umpteenth time condemns the action of government on the withheld four months’ salary arrears during the last nationwide strike embarked upon by its members, viewing it as insensitive and inconsiderate.
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“It was obvious that SSANU complied with all legal provisions, including giving adequate notices to the appropriate authorities, but were forced to embark on that strike due to the government’s failure to honour her part of the agreement.
“SSANU, therefore, earnestly requests the government to pay the withheld salaries without any further delay considering the harsh economic realities currently faced by citizens in the country as the government is aware, the value for the money has already been eroded by hyperinflation.”
