FG to Pay Striking University Workers 50% Withheld Salaries 

The federal government has shown readiness to pay 50 percent of the outstanding salaries owed to members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

 This development could lead to the end of the ongoing strike in federal universities.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, disclosed to journalists that President Bola Tinubu had directed the payment of these withheld salaries back in July. “The President approved that they should be paid since July. The minister of finance is facilitating the instrument. He said he will pay them before the end of the month,” Onyejeocha assured.

Responding to the news, SSANU’s National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, said union members would consider ending the strike if the payment is received. “If payment is made, we don’t have to meet. We will call off the strike. The economy is harsh. Our members are going through a lot,” Ibrahim stated, highlighting the toll of high living costs on university workers.

The prolonged industrial action, which has lasted three months, has led to disruptions in university activities, including an orientation programme for first-year students at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Taiwo Arobadi, SSANU’s chairman at OAU, expressed regret over the impact on new students. “The offices would remain under lock and key, and academic activities would be paralysed until the government answers them by paying their withheld four months’ salary,” Arobadi noted.

Adeyemi Peters, NASU’s Secretary-General, echoed similar sentiments, insisting that the strike would continue until the payment is confirmed. “The strike will be called off if they pay on Thursday. Until they pay what they promised to pay, the strike continues,” he said.

The unions initiated the strike to demand payment of back salaries owed since 2022, calling for a swift resolution to ease the hardships facing non-academic university staff across Nigeria.