The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has strongly opposed the Federal Government’s proposal to pay its members only half of the salaries withheld over the past four months.
Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, announced the plan, indicating that SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) would receive half of their overdue salaries pending approval from President Bola Tinubu.
In response, SSANU’s Vice President for the West, Abdussobor Salaam, emphasized that there is no justification for the government to withhold members’ salaries for four months in the first place. He asserted that the payment of salaries is not a matter of generosity but a rightful entitlement, demanding the full amount owed to their members without compromise.
Salaam criticized the government’s handling of the issue, labeling it as unfortunate and lacking in proactive measures. He highlighted previous engagements with the education minister dating back to November, indicating a lack of progress or urgency in resolving the matter.
The Vice President emphasized that SSANU’s strike in 2022 was a result of the government’s failure to address their grievances responsibly. He stressed that punishing employees for exercising their rights to strike is unjust, especially considering the agreed non-victimization clause in their agreement with the government.
Regarding the proposed payment of half salaries, Salaam firmly stated that SSANU and NASU will only accept full payment in line with their memorandum of understanding with the government. He clarified that the unions are not bound by court judgments involving other parties and urged the government to honor their agreement.
Salaam expressed disappointment at the lack of communication from the government since the end of the warning strike, indicating a stalemate in negotiations.
In response to the education minister’s remarks, Salaam warned of serious consequences if the government continues to disregard their demands. He urged the minister to act promptly and responsibly to avoid further escalation of the situation.
