NASU Begins Warning Strike Today

Despite the public holiday declared by the Federal Government today in commemoration of Nigeria’s 51st Independence anniversary, members of the Nnon-Academic Staff Unions of Universities (NASU) has said it will proceed on its planned seven-day warning strike from today.

The union, comprising of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Educational and Research Institutions (ERI), said they would embark on the planned one-week warning strike today, in its quest to get the Federal Government to implement an agreement it had reached with them.

The strike which was expected to be all encompassing under the auspices of a Joint Action Committee (JAC) constituted by SSANU, NASU and NAAT, was aimed at getting the Federal Government to fully implement the 2009 agreement it willingly signed with the unions. The agreement, bothers on the 65 years retirement age for its members, improvement in funding level of universities, as well as earned allowances and career structure for Technologists CONTISS 14 and 15.

National President of SSANU, Mr. Samson Ugwoke, who stated this yesterday in Abuja, said the seven-day warning strike would  go ahead despite the holiday declared by the Federal Government to mark Nation’s 51st Independence anniversary. According to him, “SSANU has concluded arrangements for an effective seven days warning strike starting on Monday, 3rd October, 2011.Our unions have lost a great number of her members as a result of government’s refusal to honour the agreement.” The agreement clearly states that from January 1, 2010 our members should retire at 65 years but government has continued to retire them on the old order of 60 years or 35 years in service.”

He also explained that: “Issues such as earned allowances have not been addressed almost two years after the agreements were consummated. Recall that the agreement spanned through two years costing our unions colossal sums of money. That shows that government is not sincere and serious with us from the onset.” Ugwoke said non-academic staff in all the nation’s universities had been mobilised for the strike, adding that all the relevant organs of the unions have also held meetings to this effect.

“We have fully mobilised our members all over the country in readiness for the commencement of the warning strike. We have successfully held our zonal and branches meetings and also congresses during which members were well informed and directed to fully comply and ensure the success of the strike action. All branches have also received letters of authority to proceed on strike from Monday, 3rd October, 2011. University authorities across the country have been served with necessary documents in respect of the strike,” Ugwoke explained.

He, however, added that the implementation of the National Minimum Wage Act in the universities will also feature prominently in the discussions that would be held with the Federal Government.