Reps move to halt NASU’s indefinite nationwide strike

The house of representatives has resolved to halt a planned indefinite nationwide strike by the Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU).

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and NASU ended their seven-day warning strike last Tuesday.

They initiated the week-long action to protest withheld salaries by the federal government due to the 2022 strike.

Members of the unions in registry, bursary, works, maintenance, security, and student affairs withdrew their services across campuses.

Hostels and university gates were shuttered, while electricity supply was cut off in some of the campuses.

Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU president, later directed members of the union and those of NASU to resume work ahead of a planned indefinite strike, should the federal government fail to yield to their demands.

NAN reports that Abubakar Fulata, chair of the house committee on university education, held a meeting with officials of SSANU and NASU in Abuja on Wednesday.

Among those at the meeting were the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and other relevant stakeholders.

Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU president, spoke on behalf of NASU.

He said despite President Bola Tinubu’s waiver and directive that four months of withheld salaries over the 2022 industrial action be paid, nothing has changed.

He added that the ministry of education and office of the accountant-general of the federation had not complied with the directive.

Ibrahim said the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been paid the four months withheld salary.

Ibeji Nwokema, president of NAAT, also stated that the federal government had not fully complied with the 2009 and 2017 agreements reached with the unions.

He said shortly after the seven-day warning strike which began on March 20, NAAT officials met and agreed on an indefinite strike in April.

Fulata appealed to the unions to give the committee and the house of reps time to meet with relevant authorities.

Fulata said the house would resume on April 16 and take action on the issues.