Non-academic staff Unions in the Nigerian Universities have commenced an indefinite strike to press home their demands from the government.
Complying with the national office directives, the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), University of Ibadan branch, on Monday withdrew the services of its members in compliance with the nationwide strike declared by the union.
Also, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria the government hasn’t been fair to them. With chants of solidarity at the university’s main gate, they believe the strike will force the government yield to their demands.
Similarly, members of the three non-academic unions at the Federal University of Technology, Akure have joined the national body of the associations on an indefinite strike.
The Leadership of the three unions announced their decision after an emergency congress at the University premises in Akure, Ondo State capital.
TVC’s Ayodeji Moradeyo reports that workers who were drawn from the Senior Staff Association
of Nigerian University (SSANU), Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) converged on the main campus of the institution for a congress.
At the end of the congress, which lasted for an hour, they resolved to join the industrial action ordered by national bodies of the unions, by asking members to proceed on an indefinite strike.
Some of the demands of the striking unions are, reinstatement of sacked staff school teachers, shortfall in salary payment and non-payment of earned allowances.
Chairman of NASU, FUTA chapter, Bayo Aladerotohun and that of NAAT, Alex Omoregie speak
more on the demands of the unions.
With the Federal Government still negotiating with members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), this latest strike by the non-academic unions, will further paralyse academic and research activities in the nation’s universities.
In the same vein, activities at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta also appeared to have been grounded.
A visit to the institution shows both academic and non academic activities have been put on hold.
Speaking about the development, the National Public Relations Officer, SSANU, Abdulsabul Salam said government must be willing and ready to engage stakeholders in the education sector.
He noted that the federal government ?has not been fulfilling its promises to the affected unions.
It would be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Universities have on August 12 embarked on nationwide following government’s inability to honour the 2009 agreement it signed with the union.
