NASU, SSANU begin warning strike Monday

The Non-Academic Staff Unions of Universities (NASU) says from Monday it will embark on a five-day warning strike over the inability of the federal government to implement the 2009 agreements.

The joint action committee (JAC) comprising of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists will also down tools.

The notification of the strike was conveyed in a letter addressed to Adamu Adamu, minister of education and was signed by Samson Ugwoke, SSANU president; Sani Suleiman, NAAT president and Chris Ani, NASU president.

“The university system is challenged by poor governance and administrative lapses which needs to be addressed holistically,” the letter read.

“Poor funding of our universities, shortfall in payment of staff salaries, increasing corruption in the university system should be addressed.”

Also they called on President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into the disagreement between Adebiyi Gregory, vice-chancellor of Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) and the labour unions.

“It is noteworthy that the university has been experiencing serious industrial disharmony since October 6, 2016, as a result of workers demand for the removal of the VC on grounds of alleged corruption and maladministration,” they said.

“Sir, it is on record that the vice-chancellor has a case to answer at the EFCC. He is however yet to be arraigned. Indeed, the allegation of corruption against the VC is substantial.

“It is the candid opinion of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) unions of NAAT, NASU and SSANU that a government which is bent on fighting corruption in all ramifications should not turn a blind eye under these circumstances.

“So, it will be in the interest of justice and industrial harmony that the VC be prosecuted by the relevant government agencies so that normalcy can be restored in the university.”