The Federal Government is appealing to the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) to call off their seven-day warning strike.

The industrial action initiated on Monday by both the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) aims to secure their unpaid salaries.

 

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has made an appeal for the cessation of the strike. The ministry's spokesperson, Olajide Oshundun, conveyed her disappointment in the unions' decision, which she views as a disregard for the Federal Government's efforts to resolve their grievances.

 

Onyejeocha highlighted that the Ministry was not formally informed about the unions' plan to embark on a seven-day warning strike, which she noted violates section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act. Upon learning of the planned strike, the Ministry promptly contacted the union leaders for an emergency discussion to prevent the strike. Though a face-to-face meeting did not occur, a telephone conversation was held.

 

Following this interaction, the Ministry proposed a new date, Monday 18th March, for a conciliation meeting, hoping to postpone the strike until after this meeting. However, the unions declined this proposal.

 

The Minister maintains that strikes are counterproductive and should be considered only after all attempts at conciliation have failed.