Abuja: Talks between the Federal Government and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non-teaching university staff unions, SSANU and NASU, ended in a deadlock on Monday, raising fears of a fresh industrial crisis in Nigeria’s public universities.
The high-stakes meeting, which aimed to resolve long-standing demands on salary, welfare, and retirement issues, failed to reach an agreement, with both sides remaining firmly entrenched.
The JAC comprises two unions: the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), which represents senior administrative staff at universities, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), which represents other non-teaching staff.
The Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, called the meeting. It will continue on May 5 at 3 p.m.
SSANU and NASU started a strike on April 30. Their one-month warning to the government ended with no new agreement on the 2009 deal.
The unions do not accept the government’s plan to raise salaries by 30 percent. They want a 40 per cent raise agreed upon.
The government later took back its offer of a 30 per cent raise. The unions say this was done without talking to them.
SSANU President, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, said the strike is nationwide and that services at universities have been suspended.
“Our demands remain unchanged. We are demanding fairness, equity and proper consideration for our members.
He said a 40 per cent raise is their minimum demand, and the strike will go on until there is real progress.
Ibrahim said that offices, clinics, hostels, and finance departments at all universities are closed because everyone has joined the strike.
“We call on stakeholders to press for immediate negotiations to resolve this.”
The University of Maiduguri has postponed its online exams because of the strike.
The institution, in a memo issued by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and signed by the Exams and Time-Table Coordinator, Prof. Dani Mamman, said that the examinations would be rescheduled once the strike was suspended.
“In view of the non-teaching staff strike, the above examinations will be rescheduled once the current strike is suspended.”