Pay our withheld salaries -SSANU, NASU tell Finance Minister

Striking university unions – the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU – have asked the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to pay their four months’ withheld salaries, following approval of the payment by President Bola Tinubu.

The unions said they would not meet or negotiate with the Federal Government, charging the finance minister to do the needful and remit the withheld salaries electronically to all their members.

While speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Show programme on Tuesday, SSANU President, Muhammed Ibrahim said the President had approved, and the Ministry of Education had conveyed the approval, stressing that it is within the precinct of the Ministry of Finance to do what is required of it.

“The President has approved; the Ministry of Education has conveyed the approval. It is within the precinct of the Ministry of Finance.

“So, the Minister of Finance should just do the needful. That’s all,” he said.

The unions on Monday commenced an indefinite nationwide strike within campuses of public universities to demand the immediate release of their four months’ withheld salaries.

The two unions said it was appalling that despite several ultimatums issued to the government, no positive result has come from the government.

The two unions directed their members in all public universities and inter-university centres throughout the country to “hold a joint congress in their respective campuses on Monday, October 28, 2024, and proceed on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike action as no concession should be given in any guise”.