‘FG To Pay SSANU, NASU 2 Months Of Withheld Salaries’

The Federal Government is set to commence the payment of two months’ salaries to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) out of the four months withheld during their 2022 strike.

According to Vanguard, reliable sources revealed that the memo for the payment is currently awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s approval.

In 2022, four university-based unions, including SSANU, NASU, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), embarked on a prolonged strike over unresolved issues with the Federal Government.

ASUU’s strike lasted eight months, NAAT’s for about five and a half months, while NASU and SSANU were on strike for four months.

The Buhari administration invoked a “No work, no pay” policy in response to these strikes.

However, President Tinubu, upon assuming office, expressed his desire to avoid future strikes in tertiary institutions and declared amnesty for the university workers, promising to pay four months of the withheld salaries.

The Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General’s Office complied with the directive, leading to ASUU members receiving four months of withheld salaries in October last year.

This selective payment led to dissatisfaction among the non-teaching staff unions, who also demanded their withheld salaries.

After prolonged delays and ultimate from the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU, as well as protest rallies, President Tinubu included the payment of withheld salaries as a key point during a recent meeting with organized labour on minimum wage at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The Ministry of Education has submitted its recommendations to the President, proposing that NASU and SSANU be paid two months’ worth of their withheld salaries, similar to ASUU’s arrangement.

Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, confirmed that the ministry is awaiting the President’s approval.