• Ngige: I have not received their letters

A total shutdown of universities in the country is looming following the decision of three universities – based unions to issue a fresh strike notice to the Federal Government over non-implementation of signed agreements.

The three university- based unions’ threat is coming barely 13 days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities declared a one month warning strike which has crippled academic activities in universities nationwide.

The university – based unions include: The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).

The JAC of NASU and SSANU said at its meeting on 24 February 2022, that it had reviewed the status of the Memorandum of Understanding reached with the Federal Government following its industrial action of January and February 2021.

While the university technologists have given the Federal Government between February 28 and March 14 to implement its demands, the Joint Action Committee comprising SSANU and NASU have put its members on “red alert” over a possible strike.

The JAC of NASU and SSANU said it could no longer guarantee industrial peace in the university system.

But Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said the unions had not officially communicated their intention to embark on strike to his ministry.

He directed the unions to get in touch with their employers – the Federal Ministry of Education on the level of implementation of the MoU.

President of NAAT, Ibeji Nwokoma, told reporters at a briefing on Friday in Abuja that each branch of the union would hold congresses between March 15 and 16 to discuss the response of the federal government to the demands of the union.

He added that a two-week warning strike would be declared by NAAT on March 17, 2022 at the expiration of the two-week grace (February 28 – March 14) without concrete feedback from the government.

He said: “If the government fails between February 28 and March 14 to respond to these issues, we will call a Congress from March 15 – 16. By March 17, the National Executive Council will meet and declare a warning strike.

“The warning strike will be for two weeks after which NAAT will embark on an indefinite strike until our demands are met.

“In the light of the above, failure on the part of the government to address all the issues raised, NAAT may be compelled to embark on an industrial action which shall be total and indefinite.

“NAAT therefore call on all well-meaning Nigerians (traditional rulers, religious leaders, members of the National Assembly, etc) to prevail on the government to avert the looming strike action.”

He lamented the failure of the Federal Government to fully implement signed agreements.

The NAAT President added: “It is pertinent to know that more than twelve years after signing of agreement with NAAT concerning emolument, motivation and welfare of our members, many components of the agreement are either not implemented or partly implemented.

In a statement jointly signed by the General Secretary, NASU, Prince Peters  Adeyemi and National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, the JAC said: “Having waited one whole year for the consummation of the Memorandum of Understanding and despite all peaceful entreaties, we wish to notify all stakeholders in the Nigerian universities and Inter-University Centres; and indeed all Nigerians of the possible breakdown of industrial peace in the university system borne out of disrespect for Collective Bargaining Agreements reached with NASU and SSANU by Government.

“Given the situation of things as of today (yesterday) and the agitation of our members, we can no longer guarantee industrial peace in our university system.

“With this release, we place all Nigerians on red alert of the possibility of an industrial action by the non-teaching staff unions of NASU and SSANU, as we can no longer watch as agreements freely entered into by the Federal Government with the unions are not respected.”