SSANU accuses FG of marginalisation, threatens nationwide strike

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has warned that its members may embark on a nationwide and indefinite strike if the federal government fails to urgently address lingering issues captured in the 2009 agreement and other unresolved concerns raised by the union.

The chairman of the union, Mustapha Aminu, gave the warning during a media briefing on Thursday, noting that the move followed directives from SSANU’s national leadership.

“You may wish to recall that we converged in Jos State last week, and one of the resolutions was that if the federal government refuses to respond to our demands, SSANU will embark on an indefinite strike.

“That is the directive from the national body, and we are fully ready to comply,” he further added.

He urged the government to invite the union for further negotiations to avert the looming industrial action, stressing that several critical issues have remained unresolved for years.

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“There is a need for the federal government to do the needful. They must call us to the negotiation table so we can continue discussions and prevent the strike action we are about to take.”

Aminu outlined the union’s grievances, including the non-implementation of provisions in the 2009 agreement, issues surrounding earned allowances, and what he described as an unfair distribution of funds meant for university-based unions.

He recalled that the federal government had initially promised to release N50 billion for earned allowances but ended up allocating 40 per cent of the funds to one union, leaving the remaining N10 billion for the other three unions.

“This is very unfair and uncalled for,” he said. “We are not happy with it.”

On whether salary issues were part of the agitation, Aminu explained that although a 40 per cent increment was approved two years ago, the government failed to involve all the affected unions.

“They set up an expanded committee to involve the four unions, but only one union was considered. We were not invited. This is the main issue.”

He further accused the federal government of sidelining SSANU and other unions—NAT and NASU—by engaging only the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

He said, “It is like having four children and choosing to discuss matters affecting everyone with only the eldest.

“The others will feel sidelined, and chaos will follow. That is exactly what is happening.”

Responding to suggestions that SSANU is less confrontational compared to ASUU, Aminu said each union has its own approach.

“We are administrators. We are not aggressive,” he said. “But we know how to get our demands from the federal government.”

Aminu concluded by reaffirming the union’s readiness to proceed with the strike once the national office gives the directive.

“There is no going back,” he declared. “Once the order comes, the strike will be total and indefinite.”