In a bid to prevent the looming strike by the Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) over a salary dispute, the House of Representatives has taken action to intervene in the ongoing conflict between the Federal Government and the university workers.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on University Education, Rep. Abubakar Fulata, led discussion to address the grievances of NASU during a meeting held in Abuja on Thursday. Joined by officials from the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and other stakeholders, Fulata pledged to engage with relevant authorities to find a resolution.
Speaking on behalf of NASU, SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim stated the primary concern driving the planned strike – the non-payment of withheld salaries dating back to 2022. Despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive to release four months’ worth of withheld salary, Ibrahim lamented that the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation had yet to comply with the directive.
Ibrahim pointed out the disparity in treatment, noting that while the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had received their withheld salary, NASU members were left unpaid. Similarly, NAAT President Mr. Ibeji Nwokema emphasized the government’s failure to fully implement agreements reached with the unions in 2009 and 2017.
Following a recent seven-day warning strike initiated by NASU, the unions had resolved to escalate their action to an indefinite strike starting in April. However, Fulata urged the unions to exercise patience as the House of Representatives reconvenes on April 16th.
He assured them that the committee would take actions to address their grievances, urging them to temporarily suspend strike notices in the meantime.
