The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has announced the conclusion of its seven-day warning strike, aiming to provide the government with an opportunity to address pressing issues.
During a virtual stakeholders forum organized by the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN) in Lagos on Sunday, SSANU President Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim declared the end of the strike. The forum, themed “Withheld Salaries vs Labour Crisis,” also featured Mr. Ibeji Nwokoma, President of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational And Associated Institutions (NASU).
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of university labour unions had directed its members to embark on the warning strike on March 18 due to the non-payment of salaries for four months and the government’s failure to implement agreements reached in 2009.
Ibrahim highlighted the government’s tendency to make promises and then backtrack, citing the 2009 renegotiation agreement as an example. He attributed the current situation to the government’s neglect of the education sector.
Expressing the unions’ discontent, Ibrahim emphasized that strikes were used as a last resort, despite their adverse effects on students. He stressed the importance of adequate funding for the education sector to prevent frequent strikes.
Furthermore, Ibrahim lamented the loss of lives among union members due to the lack of funds for healthcare. He called on the government to take necessary actions to address the longstanding issues affecting the education sector.
