The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-teaching staff unions of universities comprising of Non-Academic Staff Union of the Universities (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has broadcasted the resumption of its three- week strike after signing a Memorandum of Action with the Federal Government team.
The resumption from the strike takes effect from, Friday 26th February 2021, the Joint Action Committee stated.
The two unions under the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU began an indefinite strike on 5th February, 2021.
The unions began an indefinite strike over the disappointment of the Federal Government to resolve matters in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.
They are also opposing the sharing formula of the ₦40 billion earned academic allowances and non-payment of arrears of the new minimum wage, among other issues.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-teaching staff of universities including of the (SSANU) and (NASU).
Addressing reporters at the end of a meeting with the Federal Government team led by Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige, NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, said the unions agreed to end the nation wide strike after extracting some concessions from Federal government.
Mr Peters Adeyemi stated “We had eight items which we negotiated and which formed the basis for our ongoing national strike”.
“Our members in our various campuses in the universities and inter-universities centres had appraised the draft MoU and then raised the few observations, but they granted us the mandate that if we are able to meet with the government which we have been able to do today and if the leadership is satisfied, we can go ahead and suspend the strike.
“So, we have held the meeting with the government side and those areas that needed to be harmonized has been harmonized to the satisfaction of both parties and resulting from that development, we have agreed that the ongoing national strike in universities and inter universities centres should be suspended with effect from 12 midnight tomorrow which is Friday 26th, February 2021.
“We use this opportunity to appreciate our members for their commitment in this struggle, this strike is suspended and we are not mindful of the fact that we will continue to monitor the agreements that have been reached which has timeline and we hope that the FG will implement its own side of the bargain”.
“If the FG doesn’t, we have no reason but to call our members to resume the suspended strike but for now, the strike is suspended with effect from 12 midnight of tomorrow Friday 26th, February 2021.
Ngige told reporters that all the rough edges in the previous agreement had been straightened out.
“If you remember, this is about the fourth negotiation we are having on the matters brought by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of both unions and today’s deliberation has been very fruitful” Ngige stated.
“We have issued a conciliation document, a Memorandum of Action (MOA) and the two unions will get back to their members today with the MOA. They have in good faith promised to revert to the government in the next 48 hours.
“So, we keep our fingers crossed, believing that their communication with their union members will be as quick and swift as they have promised us, more so when the government is desirous of the return of normal activities to the university system, so that we can take the actions, one after the other,” the minister said.