SSANU blames finance ministry as strike disrupts resumption in public varsities

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has blamed the finance ministry for the ongoing strike that has disrupted the resumption of academic activities on campuses.

On October 28, non-teaching staff unions in federal universities began an indefinite nationwide strike over withheld salaries.

The federal government, under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, had withheld the salaries of university staff who participated in an eight-month strike in 2022.

In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four months of the withheld salaries of public university teaching staff.

Left out, non-teaching staff unions including SSANU and NASU accused the government of unfair treatment and discrimination.

In July, SSANU and NASU (Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions) planned a pre-strike protest to evoke a federal response on unpaid salaries.

The unions have since been at loggerheads with the federal government, initiating talks with the education and labour ministries.

A joint committee of both unions said it has issued multiple notices to seek redress on the matter but payment has yet to be made.

Muhammed Ibrahim, the president of SSANU, spoke during a Channels TV programme on Monday night.

He said the presidency has approved for the non-teaching staff to be paid but the matter is being stalled at the finance ministry.

“To be fair, the former minister of education Tahir Mamman and his colleague the minister of state did their best. This issue is being stalled at the finance ministry. The NLC president called the finance minister who kept assuring us payments would be made,” he said.

“This never happened. The NASU-SSANU joint action committee made efforts to see the minister of finance but we weren’t successful.

“Since July, we’ve been giving notices and changing dates based on assurances. What is happening is at the finance minister’s doorstep.”

Ibrahim said non-teaching staff have been struggling to sustain themselves under the heat of Nigeria’s unfavourable economic realities.

“Our universities are in a dire state,” he added.

“To have a productive economy and an enlightened population, universities must be funded properly. Teaching and learning must be seamless to avoid issues.

“The non-teaching staff comprising mainly of SSANU, NASU, and NAAT by extension have been shortchanged several times by operators of government.”

A strike by non-teaching staff, who oversee admissions, examinations, maintenance, security, and other administrative operations in federal universities, typically disrupts academic activities.