Strike:FG releases funds for payment of NASU, SSANU,Others

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation confirms the Federal Government has released fund for members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Federal Universities and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities as the unions prepare to commence nationwide strikes Sunday, November 3, 2024

As Nigeria’s Non-Academic Staff Union of Federal Universities (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities warm up to commence nationwide strikes effective from Sunday, November 3, 2024, the Federal Government has released funds for payment of their withheld salaries.

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed this development in a statement issued in Abuja, FCT.

The OAGF as well disclosed the Nigerian Government also released funds for the payment of benefits to retirees under the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS).

Payments to the Non-Academic Staff of Federal Universities has commenced and several members of NASU have confirmed receipt of their entitlements, stated the OAGF.

However, it has been observed that the OAGF statement did not mention payment for members of the SSANU.

The Minister’s office restated the Federal Government’s commitment to efficiently cater for the well-being of Nigerian workers and retirees.

Rationale for NASU, SSANU’s proposed strikes

On the heels of their planned nationwide strikes from Sunday, the University unions have mentioned issues of alleged inconsistencies in payments with the Federal Government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), non-payment of earned allowances, and non-payment of arrears of national minimum wage and consequential adjustment, among others.

In the process, NASU and SSANU also disagreed faulted the Nigerian Government for failing to implement an agreement the authorities earlier freely entered into with the unions.

Members of the unions, therefore, urged Nigerians and stakeholders in the University system to prevail upon the Federal Government to honour the agreement to avoid what is described as a “total breakdown of industrial harmony in the universities and inter-university centres.”