Non-academic staff to resume strike today

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee, JAC, have directed their members nationwide to resume indefinite strike action today.

This was disclosed in a letter to all the branch Chairmen of the non-teaching staff unions in the universities entitled, ‘Directives to immediately resume the suspended strike,’ signed by Comrades Samson Chijioke Ugwoke, SSANU, Chris Ani, NASU and Sani Suleiman, NAAT.

It stated that the action was necessitated as a result of the inability of the Federal Government to clarify the criteria for the disbursement of the N23 billion released by the government to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

JAC described the N4.6 billion allocated to them out of the total sum released as pittance.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which was given the lion share of over N18 billion as the University of Ilorin and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN of the union were said to have been excluded in the sharing due to the internal politics of ASUU.

It was also gathered that the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has also questioned the rationale behind the sharing formula without recourse to the University Governing Council that is in possession of the data and positions of staff that worked between 2009 to 2012 when the Earned Allowances was approved.

The letter reads in part, “The Federal Government was given seven (7) days to explain the criteria for the said allocation and do the needful. The deadline has elapsed without any response from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“In view of the above therefore, you are hereby directed to resume the suspended indefinite strike action as from 12 midnight, Sunday 3rd December, 2017. During this period, the strike shall be total and comprehensive.”

Chairman of JAC and National President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Chijioke Ugwoke while briefing journalists yesterday said that it appeared to the three non teaching staff unions that “the allocation as presently done is laced with motive of destabilizing the university system and causing disaffection among members of the university community.