The Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Education Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) have suspended the strike actions for the next two months. The decision was made after a negotiation meeting with the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu in Abuja yesterday.
A statement released by the two bodies via the Spokesman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), Mr. Peters Adeyemi revealed that the suspension will commence on Wednesday August 24, 2022. It also disclosed that the two months are to give the federal government some time to carry out the agreements reached. Talking about the agreements, Mr. Peters said one is: “the decision of the government to set aside the sum of N50 billion for the payment of earned academic and earned allowances, the cogent decision on the University Peculiar Personnel Payroll System (UPPS), release of the white paper on university visitation panel and funding of the universities.”
Addressing the issue of the salary payment system, Peters revealed that the federal government said it has gone through the systems provided by the three bodies – ASUU, as well as the JAC of SSANU and NASU and it is satisfied. However, the government needs to receive the report of the technical committee that was set up on the matter before proceeding with any action.
Responding to the complaints on poor funding of federal tertiary institutions, Adeyemi said Adamu has directed the National Universities Commission (NUC) to see to it that all tertiary institutions owned by the government are fully provided for and are abreast of their responsibilities; else, there will be consequences should any school be found wanting. The minister was reported to have revealed that the Muhammadu Buhari led administration is committed to assigning no less than 15% of the national budget on education.
“When we presented the offers that the government made to our members, they think that since the majority of the issues that are in contention have been substantially addressed by the government, the strike is hereby be suspended effective this Wednesday, August 24, 2022,” he said.
