President Bola Tinubu says the entitlements of the members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) will be considered.

The members of the unions recently held a nationwide protest over non-payment of their four months withheld salaries.

SSANU had, on July 7, 2024, directed all branches to hold a one-day nationwide protest to express their grievances over the withheld salaries and other pending issues.

SSANU and NASU had earlier issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government over their withheld salaries.

The unions under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) said they could not guarantee industrial harmony if the federal government failed to pay their four months’ withheld salaries in two weeks.

The unions had embarked on a one-week warning strike between March 18 and March 24.

However, Tinubu, while speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, July 18, said the entitlements of SSANU and NASU members will be paid.

OAU SSANU joins nationwide protest over withheld salaries

The president, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, directed the Ministries of Finance, and Budget and Economic Planning to look at the possibilities of clearing the backlog.

Tinubu said: “Last week, I brought the workload to you because we have a timeline. We have a problem, and we recognise that you have a problem too. We are in the same economy. We are in the same country. We may have different rooms, different addresses, and different houses; we are just members of one family that must care for each other.

“We must look at the parameters of things. Here, I have a speed limit, and I must pay attention to traffic warnings; slippery when wet, curved roads, and be careful not to have an accident. That is why I went as far as having this meeting today.”

He added that renewing the hope of Nigerians extends to providing infrastructure that will improve their livelihoods and create an inclusive economy where all can participate and benefit.

The NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Festus Osifo, thanked the president for creating time to host two meetings on the review of the national minimum wage.

The labour leaders also applauded Tinubu for his clear show of commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers.

The Star