The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay the four months withheld salaries of their members.
The unions vowed to shut universities and inter- university centres if the government failed to pay the withheld salaries at the expiration of the ultimatum.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SSANU and NASU accused the government of neglect and insincerity.
The letter, titled ‘Re-Four months withheld salaries: Demand for immediate payment’, was signed by NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU President Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim.
The unions said they can no longer guarantee industrial harmony in the universities if the withheld salaries are not paid.
The letter reads: “The minister would recall that the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU embarked on a one-week warning strike between March 18 and 24 to protest the denial of the four months’ salary arrears withheld between May and August 24, 2022.
“Following a series of letters and the assurances of payment, we write to remind the minister of our various letters, engagements and assurances towards the payment. We express our regrets and dismay that till date, the withheld salaries have not been paid to our members.
“We view it as an act of insincerity and neglect on the part of the government to the yearnings and aspirations of our members.
“The deafening silence of government and failure to pay the withheld salaries is creating high level of agitations and contentions among our members in the universities and inter-university Centres, such that we can no longer guarantee industrial peace and harmony on our university campuses.
“We, therefore, demand the immediate payment of the four months withheld salaries to our members not later than two weeks from the date of this correspondence, failing which we will be left with no option than to shut down the universities and inter-university centres.”