The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities say they will embark on an indefinite strike if the government fails to meet their demands.
The unions, under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee stated this through its spokesperson, Mr Prince Adeyemi, during a news conference on Wednesday, in Abuja.
Members of the unions had earlier embarked on two weeks warning strike that expired on April 10.
The union’s demands included the inconsistencies in payment with the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, non-payment of earned allowances, non-payment of arrears of national minimum wage, and its consequential adjustment.
Others are poor funding of state universities, delay in the renegotiation of the 2009 agreements, non-release of white papers of visitation panels, and non-payment of retirement benefits to outgone members, among others.
JAC had resolved that following the failure of the government to invite the leadership for a meeting, the strike should be extended by another two weeks before an indefinite and total strike would be declared.
Adeyemi said that the strike was borne out of the non-responsive nature of the government and its officials to matters affecting the members of the NASU and SSANU and by extension, the entire University System.
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He said, “Arising from the last memorandum and following up on the issues, we have written no less than 10 letters or reminders to the government to no avail, not even an acknowledgement.
“It was at the end of all these reminders with no acknowledgement by the government that we were left with no other resort but to embark on a two-week warning strike.
“Prior to the strike, due process was duly followed and the notice was issued in line with the extant laws.
“Shamefully and painfully, there was no attempt by the government to intercept or even invite the unions to a meeting.
“As of today, the two-week extension is getting to the middle and with no response insight from government, we may be left with no resort but to embark on an indefinite and total strike.”
Adeyemi, however, gave conditions upon which their industrial action might be suspended.
He insisted that government should jettison the IPPIS for the University Peculiar Personnel and Payroll System developed by the non-academic unions.
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