Monday, 16 January 2017

University Staff Unions Begin Warning Strike

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) are leading the strike action in protest of the federal government's refusal to implement its 2009 agreement with the unions.


The Tribune Online reports that the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) are leading the strike action in protest of the federal government's refusal to implement its 2009 agreement with the unions.
The three unions, united as the Joint Action Committee, had notified the Minister of Labor and the Minister of Education of their impending strike last year, but the federal government failed to address their concerns.
NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi confirmed to the Tribune Online that the strike would last five days, adding that the government has yet to invite the unions to negotiation.
Mr. Adeyemi explained that the government's failure to abide by its 2009 agreement with the unions is not the only reason for the strike. The unions are also protesting poor governance and administration within the university system, poor funding of universities, corruption among university administrators, and non-payment of some staffs' salaries.
He added that the unions are also condemning poor infrastructure, uncompleted projects, and lack of adequate teaching and learning facilities.
The Tribune Online reports that the unions are also petitioning the Nigerian University Pension Management Commission to "resolve the problem of university staff pensions, non-implementation of the National Industrial Court judgement on university staff schools, and the non-implementation of the negotiated career structure for technologists."
The unions have also petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the crisis at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, surrounding the university's vice chancellor.       

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