The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have expressed a lack of faith in the Federal Government. This sentiment arose following an interview by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on Channels Television’s Politics Today. Mamman stated that SSANU and NASU would only receive half of their withheld salaries pending President Bola Tinubu’s approval.
Mamman clarified that the decision to pay ASUU four months’ salary was discretionary, not automatically extending to SSANU and NASU due to a court judgment on ‘No Work, No Pay.’ Regarding the timeline for payment, Mamman refrained from committing to a specific date but assured that efforts were underway.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU concluded a one-week warning strike on March 24, 2024, over withheld salaries. The salaries were withheld following the implementation of a ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy against ASUU and SSANU during their respective strikes in 2022.
In response to Mamman’s interview, the National President of SSANU/NASU, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, expressed disappointment, citing previous assurances from government officials regarding salary payment. Ibrahim emphasized the need for the government to uphold its commitment and urged for clarity on the payment timeline.
The SSANU/NASU President referenced a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, which indicated the government’s approval for partial payment of withheld salaries. He criticized the inconsistency in the government’s stance and expressed distrust in the Minister’s remarks.
Similarly, the National Vice President of SSANU, Abdussobur Salaam, questioned the Minister’s understanding of the issues, warning of potential repercussions for universities if the concerns were not adequately addressed. He urged the Minister to take decisive action to avoid unfavorable outcomes.
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