Non Academic Staff Union Of Educational And Associated Institutions NASU

BREAKING: NASU, NAAT, SSANU suspend nationwide strike

The non-teaching staff of Nigerian universities have suspended their strike.

The staff, members of three unions, NASU, SSANU, and NAAT, announced the suspension of the three month and 10 days old strike on Wednesday.

Samson Ugwoke, the national chairman of the Joint Action Committee of the three unions announced suspension on Wednesday at a press briefing.

He said members of the three unions have been directed to resume on March 15, 2018.

“We shall not hesitate to resume the strike if government reneges on the agreements reached or delays in any aspects,” he said.

The workers commenced the strike on December 4, 2017.

FROM NPRO:

Comrades, I think its expedient to inform you that the strike action has not been suspended. In line with the mandate given to JAC national at the meeting of Wednesday, 7th March, the final decision and modalities shall be communicated on Wednesday. Expect a press conference on the final decision on Wednesday. A letter shall thereafter be communicated to the branches on the outcome.

However, for the avoidance of doubt, we are still on strike and so shall it be till an announcement on Wednesday. Thank you

JUST IN: NUC approves Zamfara university - Premium Times Nigeria The school located in Talata-Mafara is the 162nd university in Nigeria.

Agreement

NASS to go against corrupt VCs, lecturers.

—-Promises to address grievances of Varsity non teaching staff

—-SSANU, NASU, NAAT stage protest over corruption in Varsities

THE National Assembly Thursday promised to look into the allegations of corruption in the Nigerian Universities in order to sanitize the system.

This is as the non teaching staff in the universities under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee, JAC, has accused the university administrations of indulging in corrupt practices while the government appears not to be disturbed with the ugly situation despite the Federal Government anti-corruption fight.
Meantime, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has accused the Federal Government of always breaching agreements it freely entered into with workers.

JAC comprising the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, Non Academic Staff Union of Universities and Educational Institutions, NASU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, staged a protest at the Ministry of Education and the National Assembly over the alleged decay in the universities.

Security operatives had a hectic day at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, when they tried to stop the protesting university non teaching staff to have access to the Ministry of Education where they had gone to register their protest with the Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu.

The protesting workers had to use all their strength to force the gate that was locked with heavy presence of the policemen to open for the workers led by the National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and the Chairman of JAC, Comrade Samson Ugwoke to gain access to the ministry.

Infuriated by the development, the workers chanted anti Adamu songs and even called for his resignation.

At the National Assembly, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki represented by Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim from Yobe East assured the protesting workers that the National Assembly would look into their grievances especially the allegation of corruption in the universities.

Senator Ibrahim flanked by Senators Shehu Sani and Ahmed Sani Yerima as well as Rep Jarigbe Agon Jarigbe said, “impunity brings anarchy, so I want to assure you that we are going to fight corruption in the universities squarely..

“I also want to assure that every worker will get its allowances. All the demands that you have made will be tabled before the house.”

Also speaking, Senator Sani Shehu, assured the non academic teaching staff that in the name of the struggle and in the name of the Nigerian people that he will peruse their demand to logical conclusion.”

Presenting their grievances, the Chairman of JAC and National President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Ugwoke said, “We need to let the National Assembly to know why we are sad, we need to let them know and sentizes them on the injustices that are going on the university system.

“We need to let them know the plight of the Nigerian universities and also workers in the system. We want them to come in and investigate the universities and find out why our graduates are not employable. We are not pleased with the state of affairs and strongly believe that with your intervention, all matters that led to the current industrial action of the Joint Action Committee unions shall be address.

“We also deem it imperative to humbly draw the attention of His Execellency on the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the non teaching staff unions based on our demands for the full proper implementation of our 2009 agreement. We have also had several meetings with the federal government.

“The specific issues are one, the reinstatement of our members in the university staff schools, who were removed from the budget of the universities based on obnoxious budget call circular from National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission in gross contravention of the 2009 agreement with federal government which also the National Industrial Court has ruled in our favour.

“Two, the issue of payment of Earned Allowances where a sum of N23 billion released by government in September 2017, was skewed in favour of a sister union by some government officers thereby leaving 11 percent of the said amount to the non teaching staff.

“Three, the issue of shortfalls in salary payment where our members have been receiving fractions of their salaries for upward of a year now. Four, the issue of career progression for Technologists to CONTISS 14 and 15, in line with the agreement reached with NAAT.

“Five, Usurpation of non teaching career positions by academic staff and six corruptions in the universities system. We also want to state that we have signed two different MOUs with government through the Minister of Labour, yet to no avail. Nothing tangible on ground except verbal assurances.

NLC to Fed Govt: Respect Signed Agreements with Workers

Posted By: Tony Akowe, Abuja On: March 9, 2018 In: News, News Update

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Abubakar Wabba has asked the Federal Government to ensure that justice is done to workers by respecting agreements willingly entered into with them.

He said the government must do everything possible to ensure that its words remain its bond and pay adequate attention to the nation’s educational system.

Wabba, who spoke while addressing a mass rally organised by striking non-teaching staff of Nigerian universities, said it was rather unfortunate that the government constantly renege on its promises and signed agreement with unions.

He said the strike would continue until justice is done.

The non-teaching staff unions of universities have been on strike since December 4, following government’s failure to release money for the payment of their earned allowances in accordance with the agreement signed between the government and the unions.

Wabba said the nation’s educational system needed more attention as it has not been able to attract the desired attention for a long time, saying “everything possible needs to be done for this sector because of our future generations”.

“So it must be a priority of government and all stakeholders. We must also ensure that the right thing is done,” the labour leader said.

National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Chairman of the Joint Action Committee Samson Ugokwe said the rally was organised to sensitise the citizens on reasons why they went on strike and sought the intervention of the National Assembly to address the workers’ demand.

He said: “We need to let the National Assembly know why we are sad. We need to let them know and sensitise them on the injustices that is going on in the universities’ system. We need to let them know the plight of the Nigerian universities and also workers in the system.

“We want them to come in and investigate the universities and find out why our graduates are not employable. We are not pleased about the state of affairs and strongly believe that with your intervention, all matters that led to the current industrial action of the Joint Action Committee unions shall be address.

“We also deem it imperative to humbly draw the attention of his excellency to the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the non-teaching staff unions based on our demands for the full and proper implementation of our 2009 agreement. We have also had several meetings with the Federal Government.”

Former Yobe State Governor Senator Bukar Aba-Ibrahim, who received the protesting workers on behalf of the Senate President, assured them that the Senate will intervene and ensure that they were paid what they were entitled to.

He assured them that the lawmakers were solidly behind the fight against corruption and would support the fight against corruption in the universities.

Senator Shehu Sani assured them that he would pursue their demands to logical conclusion”.

Director of Tertiary Education Joel Ojo, who received the protesters at the Federal Ministry of Education, said the ministry was doing all to ensure that the issues affecting the university system were resolved.

Full activities may soon resume in Nigerian universities across the country as the non-teaching staff currently on strike have accepted the Federal Gov'ernment’s proposal aimed at addressing their grievances.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt however that the striking unions have asked for ‘some time to consult before finally returning to the duty posts.’

Officials of the unions – Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, SSANU, Non Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU, and National Association of Academic Technologist, NAAT – told PREMIUM TIMES off the record that the strike could be suspended on Thursday or Friday.

The National President of the Joint Action Committee of the unions, Samson Ugwoke, spoke after the second open negotiation meeting with representatives of the government.

The second conciliatory meeting which started about 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and ended at 12:20 a.m. on Thursday is part of the steps taken by both teams to resolve issues involved in the ongoing nationwide strike.

”A three-page agreement was signed and endorsed by all of us,” Mr. Ugwoke said.

“We are taking our (own) document and we will make our pronouncement soon,” he said.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said both parties had come to the end of deliberation on the contentious issues which led to the strike.

The multiple demands by the union include: payment of earned allowances to their members; review of governance system in universities; improved funding of universities in line with UNESCO recommendations; provision of infrastructure in the universities; payment of salary shortfalls being owed; implementation of the National Industrial Court judgement on university staff schools; registration of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company; NUPEMCO, and the implementation of CONTISS 14 and 15 for technologists.

The unions are also asking for an improvement in the teaching and learning facilities in the universities; stemming the tide of corruption in the university system and ”showing of commitment in the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/University unions Agreements.”

On the issue of inadequate infrastructure raised by the union, Mr. Ngige said a seven-member committee will be set up to handle the matter promising that the university system will be rejuvenated.

On that of endemic corruption in the universities, he said the government would ensure that the Internally Generated Revenue from universities are put to maximum use.

“Based on these conditions, we have agreed with the joint action committee that they will consult their organs and call off the strike as soon as possible,” he said.

“If you want the proof of the implementation, we will present it to you,” he added.

If the strike is suspended, the unions would be following the pathway of striking lecturers who also recently soft-pedalled on a debilitating strike they embarked upon to push home similar demands.

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