The meeting between the Federal Government and non-academic staff unions in public universities ended in a deadlock on Monday as the nationwide strike by members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) continued.
Papers News reports that the industrial action, coordinated by the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU, has paralysed activities in public universities across the country.
According to Vanguard, the meeting will continue today by 3 pm for further discussions.
The indefinite strike has shut down clinics, administrative blocks, hostels and academic support services in public universities nationwide.
The University of Maiduguri has already postponed its e-examinations due to the industrial action.
At the University of Jos, members of SSANU and NASU staged a peaceful protest on Monday over unresolved welfare issues and delays in the renegotiation of agreements with the Federal Government.
The strike, which began on April 30, followed the expiration of a one-month ultimatum issued by the unions to the government to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with non-teaching staff unions.
Unions Reject 30% Offer
The unions rejected the Federal Government’s unilateral 30 per cent salary increase, insisting on a 40 per cent adjustment.
They also accused the government of failing to follow the collective bargaining process required by labour laws.
Sources at Monday’s meeting who spoke with Vanguard said government representatives explained the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of the earlier 30 per cent offer and appealed to the unions to suspend the strike while efforts continued to resolve the issues.
However, union leaders reportedly declined to make such a commitment without consulting their respective organs, leading to the adjournment of the meeting.
Speaking earlier on the strike, SSANU National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, described the industrial action as a total shutdown, with full compliance across the country.
He said, “It’s very effective, total shutdown for now. All clinics, administrative blocks, hostels, departments, faculty offices, admin offices, finance offices, even those providing so-called essential services, have been ordered to withdraw.”
Ibrahim said the unions were demanding fairness and equity, maintaining that the minimum benchmark for negotiation remained a 40 per cent increase.
He further stated, “Our position remains the same: we’ve asked for equity, consideration and fairness, so nothing has changed.
“We will go and listen to them at the meeting, but the strike is on.”
UNIMAID Postpones Exams
In a memo issued by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, UNIMAID said the postponement of examinations became necessary because of the strike.
The directive, signed by the Exams and Time-Table Coordinator, Prof. Dani Mamman, stated, “In view of the non-teaching staff strike, the above exams will be rescheduled until the current strike is suspended.”
At UNIJOS, members of NASU and SSANU marched from the university’s main gate to the Senate Building, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards.
SSANU Chairperson at UNIJOS, Anthony Jauro, criticised what he described as a disparity in staff welfare and delays in addressing the concerns of non-teaching staff.
He said, “Our advice to government is that creating division among staff welfare in the university system is not good. Why create disparity? Are you trying to create a crisis?”
He said while negotiations with some unions had been concluded earlier in the year with partial implementation, others were still being neglected.
Also speaking, NASU Chairperson at UNIJOS, Monday Danjuma, accused the Federal Ministry of Education of bias in its dealings with university unions.
“My call is that the Federal Government should do the needful. We want them to know that the Minister of Education is taking sides and creating division within the university system,” Danjuma said.
The unions insisted that the strike would continue until their demands were met and negotiations on the 2009 agreement were fully concluded.
