Sophia Michaels
The Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Associated Institutions (NASU) at the University of Nigeria Nsukka have joined their counterparts in the ongoing warning strike.
The incident brought administrative activities to a halt at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, on Monday.
SSANU and NASU said the aim of the warning strike called by their national Joint Action Committee (JAC) was to protest the Federal Government’s failure to pay members four months withheld salaries during their strike in 2022.
Speaking during an emergency congress on Monday in UNN, Dr Linus Akata, Chairman of SSANU-UNN, flanked by Comrade Ekene Amu, Chairman of NASU-UNN, said that the aim of the emergency congress was to tell their members about the 7-day nationwide warning strike declared by JAC.
Akata said that the strike would be total and comprehensive in UNN, in total adherence and compliance to the directive of the national leadership.
He said that all the administrative offices and essentials service sections of the university were already under lock and key,
The union leader warned that the unions would deal decisively with any member found defaulting or sabotaging the seven day warning strike.
“Members are directed to go home immediately after this congress and stay away from work until the 7-day warning strike ends, as any defaulting member will be decisively dealt with.
“This warning strike is total and comprehensive as administrative block of the UNN, offices, works department, University Medical Centre, University Primary School and among others have been shut down till the end of the strike.
“There will be no water and electricity supply from the university hostels, also internet facilities from the university have been shut down for the period as we have directed our members working in these places to go home,” he said.
Akata added that the unions have no apology over the 7-day warning strike as their national leadership had done everything necessary to avert the strike by appealing to government to do the needful.
“SSANU and NASU have written so many letters to government, held several press conferences, led delegations to government officials in a bid to resolve the issue but all to no avail.
“So, at the end of this warning strike, if the government did not meet our demand we will also take directive from our national body on the next line of action,” he said.
Akata urged members to go home and relax in their houses till the end of strike.
He added that they should report any threat or query for not coming to work from management, head of departments or faculties, to the union.
Some students interviewed by DAILY POST over the 7-day warning strike by non-teaching staff expressed concern and appealed to government to quickly resolve the issue to avoid anything that would again disrupt the academic calendar in public universities.
