iDeemlawfulThe non-academic staff of federal universities have suspended the strike they had initiated over withheld salaries.
On October 28, non-teaching staff unions in federal universities began an indefinite nationwide strike over withheld salaries from 2022.
The unions involved were the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
On November 2, the federal government released the withheld salaries of striking workers alongside the pending benefits of retirees.
On Sunday, NASU and SSANU wrote to their state chairpersons nationwide and directed a suspension of the strike from November 5.
It said two months of the withheld salaries are still to be paid by the federal government.
“The leadership of the joint action committee, after several contacts and other patriotic consideration, hereby directs that the ongoing indefinite strike be suspended for one month effective Tuesday 5th November 2024,” the statement reads in part.
“We wish to also reiterate that discussions on the remaining two months, the N50 billion earned allowances, arrears of 25/35 percent and the wage award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations.”
In 2022, the federal government, under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, withheld the salaries of university staff who participated in an eight-month strike.
In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four months of the withheld salaries of public university teaching staff.
Left out, non-teaching staff unions including SSANU and NASU accused the government of unfair treatment and discrimination.
In July, SSANU and NASU planned a pre-strike protest to evoke a federal response on the unpaid salaries.
The unions had been in a prolonged negotiation with the labour, education, and finance ministries over the matter.
