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Members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Abuja chapter on Tuesday protested against the Federal Government’s failure to pay their four months withheld salaries.

The protest marked the beginning of series of union’s actions that could lead to a complete shutdown of universities across the country next week.

SSANU chairman of the University of Abuja, Comrade Nurndeen Yusuf, and chairperson of NASU, Comrade Sadiya Ibrahim Hassan, expressed the unions’ frustration over government’s broken promises while they demanded immediate release of their withheld salaries.

The university workers also warned that they would no longer accept empty promises from the government over the non-payment of their hard-earned salaries, insisting that promises alone cannot feed their families or pay their children’s school fees.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC), representing NASU and SSANU, has been grappling with longstanding issues related to welfare and university education.

During the protests, the unions highlighted the non-payment of their salaries for four consecutive months, which according to them was exacerbated by the government’s selective implementation of directives, favouring academic staff over non-teaching personnel.

Recall that in March 2022, the unions embarked on a strike due to the government’s failure to honour multiple agreements.

However in 2023, President BolaTinubu directed the payment of their withheld salaries and excluded universities from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Nine months after the presidential directive, the unions accused the Federal Government of Orwellian implementation, where “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”

They called on the Minister of Education to address these issues promptly and cease from playing the role of an ostrich.

Additionally, they urged the Minister of Labour and Employment to prevent further disruptions to the academic calendar.

SSANU and NASU also implored members of the National Assembly, royal leaders, and opinion influencers to intervene.

“This repeated reneging on agreements is eroding the trust of our members in government and its officials, and one wonders if they are truly committed to a qualitative education for the children of the masses.

“Our hope was renewed when the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the campaigns assured all Nigerians that there will be no more strike in Nigerian universities,” the unions said.

They added that the Tuesday’s protest signals the beginning of series of the unions’ actions which will culminate to the shut all universities in Nigeria.

“This action is preventable and avoidable. We therefore call on the Minister of Education to sit up and stop playing the ostrich.

“We equally call on the Minister of Labour and Employment to use her good office to prevent the industrial disharmony and disaffection in our universities, causing unnecessary disruption in our academic calendar and activities.

“We can no longer accept empty promises, they don’t put foods on our table nor pay our children school fees,” the unions said.