The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities have suspended their ongoing one-month strike.

Some members of the union told our correspondent that on Friday, they received an alert to pay one month salary out of the four months the government owed them.

SSANU Vice President Abdussobur Salaam told our correspondent “They should pay for the four months. If they only paid one month, that’s only 25% of what they owe us.”

On Monday, October 28, 2024, the JAC of SSANU and NASU went on an indefinite strike over the withheld salary of its members.

Since then, activities have been established in universities across the country.

However, following the payment of one month of their four months’ salaries on Friday, the unions, in a statement jointly signed by the National President, SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, and the General Secretary, NASU, Peters Adeyemi, on Sunday urged members to resume work on Tuesday , November 5, 2024.

He disclosed that a high-level engagement culminated in the extraction of an irrevocable commitment from the Federal Government that two months of the four months of withheld salaries be paid in staggered form.

“One month until the end of October 2024 (which is mostly done), then the second month is due until the end of November 2024.

“Deriving from the above and considering the level of commitment shown by the new minister and the leadership of the Department of State Services, the JAC leadership, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby orders that the ongoing indefinite strike be suspended for a period of time. – effective month Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

“The branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint congress in their respective campuses for Monday, November 4, 2024 and intimate members of these developments and urge them to resume their work on Tuesday, November 5 2024″, the press release states.

He added that during the industrial struggle, “I had several extensive and exhaustive deliberations with Federal Government officials, including the new Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of State for Education, the Permanent Secretary, the Federal Ministry. of Education, the Accountant General of the Federation and the leadership of the Department of State Services.

“The national leadership of the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU recognizes and commends our members from universities and inter-university centers for their steadfast resolve, relentless determination and steadfast support for the ongoing strike.”

The statement reiterated that discussions on the remaining two months, N50 billion earned allowances, 25/35 percent arrears and salary award were reviewed and were being deliberated upon.

The unions are demanding, among other things, the payment of four months’ withheld wages, improved remuneration, earned allowances and the implementation of 2009 agreements with the government.

The federal government, through the Ministry of Labor and Employment, invoked the “No Work, No Pay” policy when the four university unions began an extended strike in 2022.