The meeting between the Federal Government and the Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) concluded without resolution on Thursday.
Held at the Federal Ministry of Education and led by former Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, the discussions focused on the ongoing strike by the unions. Permanent Secretary Nasir Gwarzo also participated in the 11 a.m. meeting.
The strike, initiated by the JAC of SSANU and NASU on Monday, resulted from four months of withheld salaries, significantly disrupting university operations nationwide.
In an interview, SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim reported that university officials, including vice-chancellors and registrars, had not received their salaries for four months, leading to a complete shutdown of university activities until payments are made.
A source from the meeting noted that while the government offered assurances regarding payment, past promises had proven unreliable, making them hesitant to trust verbal commitments alone.
SSANU Vice-President Abdussobur Salaam confirmed that the government did not provide a specific timeline for salary payments, reinforcing the union’s position: “We informed the Federal Government that if it does not pay us, we will not resume work.” He emphasized the need for concrete action rather than assurances before they would consider ending the strike.
After the meeting, Sununu stated that efforts to address the unions’ concerns were ongoing and that the government was committed to finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the educational system.
Peoplesmind
