The Federal Government has appealed 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 Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, made the appeal in a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Olajide Oshundun,  on Monday, March 18, 2024.

SSANU and NASU commenced a seven-day warning strike on Monday over the non-payment of four months withheld salaries.

President Bola Tinubu had, in October 2023, directed that the university workers who embarked on a prolonged strike in 2022 be paid four months.

The members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who were part of the unions that embarked on the strike had been paid their own withheld four months’ salaries.

Onyejeocha, however, expressed displeasure at the action of the unions, which she described as a total disregard of the Federal Government’s concerted effort to address the concerns of the unions.

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She stated that the ministry was not officially notified by the unions of their intention to proceed on the seven-day warning strike.

The minister said: This is contrary to the provisions of section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act.

“The ministry got wind of the intended warning strike and it reached out to the leadership of the unions for an emergency meeting in order to avert the strike.

“Unfortunately, a physical meeting could not be arranged between the unions and the federal government, but a tele-discussion took place between their leadership and the ministry.”

Onyejeocha said consequently, the ministry suggested another date, Monday, March 18, for a proper conciliation meeting.

She added that this believed that on the basis of that discussion, the intended strike would be put on hold pending the outcome of the meeting; but this date was rejected by the unions.

The minister, however, maintained that a strike did not serve any useful purpose and should only be resorted to as a last option after exhausting every conciliation effort.

Onyejocha, therefore, appealed to SSANU and NASU to step back from their hard-line stance and meet the government at the table for conciliation.

The Star