News
Again, Varsities Face Lockdown As Workers Begin Strike Today
Published
9 months agoon
By
Editor
The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has vowed to indefinitely shut down all activities in universities across the country from Monday (today) when they embark on an indefinite strike.
A statement made available to The PUNCH on Sunday and signed by National President, SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, General Secretary, NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, said the ultimatum it gave the Federal Government over its withheld salaries expired Sunday midnight.
The unions are demanding, among others, the payment of the four-month withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances and implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.
The Federal Government had through the Ministry of Labour and Employment invoked the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy when the four university-based unions embarked on a prolonged strike in 2022.
Last October, President Bola Tinubu directed the payment of four of the eight months withheld salaries for the academic staff. It was finally paid in February.
READ ALSO: Only 21 Nigerian Varsities Make Global Ranking, Say Educators [FULL LIST]
The directive was silent about the non-teaching staff, raising concerns as to their fate. The unions also described the directive as selective and kicked against it.
The unions subsequently wrote to the government, gave ultimatums, protested and held warning strikes, but their four-month salaries are still being withheld.
The statement, called on all the state-owned universities to also incorporate their local demands into the strike action as appropriate.
“Your strict compliance and adherence to this directive is mandatory for all NASU and SSANU branches in Federal and State Owned Universities as well as Inter-University Centres,” it read.
It also said, “The last circular of the Joint Action Committee of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities titled, “Latest Development in Respect of the Withheld Four Months’ Salaries” referenced JAC/NS/VOL.III/32 dated 21st October 2024 refers.
“The circular under reference gave seven days to the Federal Government to do the needful in respect of our demands for payment of outstanding four months’ salaries and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sighed with the Federal Government on 20th August, 2022 which expires midnight of Sunday, 27th October, 2024.”
It recall that at the last National Peaceful Protest of JAC of NASU and SSANU held on July 18, 2024 at the Unity Fountain Abuja, an ultimatum of 10 days was given to the Government to pay the withheld salaries to avoid shutting down of activities in the Universities and Inter-University Centres with no consequence.
READ ALSO:SSANU, NASU Issue Three-Week Ultimatum, Threaten Indefinite Strike
“It is quite appalling that we have issued several ultimatums thereafter with no positive result from the government, it is therefore obvious that Government is not positively disposed to our rightful and legitimate demands in spite of several interactions, dialogues, exchange of correspondences and assurances of payment all to no avail.
“We have exercised considerable and prolonged patience, allowing multiple deadlines to pass without receiving a satisfactory response to our demands by the Government,” the statement, “This is to direct all our members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres throughout the country to hold a joint congress in their respective campuses on Monday, 28th October, 2024 and proceed on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike action as no concession should be given in any guise.”
SSANU members are in charge of major facilities on campuses, which has sparked fears of a standstill of activities if the strike begins today.
“Our members are in charge of water supply, electricity, communication, internet supply, security, finance, if they pay this money tomorrow (today), we will call off the strike,” SSANU boss Ibrahim told The PUNCH.
The strike holds as President Tinubu directed outgoing Minister of Education Prof Mamman Tahir to hand over office to the incoming Dr Tunji Alausa on Wednesday.
Efforts to reach the Federal Ministry of Education for reaction to the industrial action by both unions were unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.
In March, the union embarked on a one-week warning strike after its letter to the education minister and the Chief of Staff to the President were not responded to. In July, the unions ordered a nationwide protest to call the government’s attention to their plight.
After the July meeting, the spokesperson for the education ministry, Folashade Boriowo, said the withheld salaries had been forwarded to the highest level of government and were receiving attention.
Earlier this month, the union gave a seven-day ultimatum over the withheld salaries but the action also failed to achieve the desired result.
“It is quite appalling that we have issued several ultimatums thereafter with no positive result from the government, it is therefore obvious that the government is not positively disposed to our rightful and legitimate demands in spite of several interactions, dialogues, exchange of correspondences and assurances of payment all to no avail,” the unions said in the statement.
Last month, the unions announced plans to commence an indefinite strike if their outstanding salaries were not paid within three weeks, demanding, among other things, the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and the implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.
In a statement jointly signed by SSANU boss Ibrahim, and the General Secretary of NASU, Adeyemi, the unions said the Federal Government was given a 10-day grace period, which expired on July 26, 2024, to pay the four months of outstanding salaries to university staff, with the threat of shutting down universities and inter-university centres if the payment was not made.
However, six weeks after the grace period elapsed, the government has still not fulfilled this obligation.
“It is in respect of the above that we write to inform the government of the decision of the National JAC of NASU and SSANU at the meeting held on 12th September 2024, that the government be given another three weeks’ final ultimatum from Tuesday, 17th September 2024, to pay the four months’ withheld salaries and also implement the agreement reached with it on 20th August 2022, failing which our members may be forced to embark on indefinite strike action at the expiration of the ultimatum.”
The unions noted that they were aware that President Tinubu had approved the payment of the outstanding four months’ withheld salaries, but that this was not implemented by relevant government officials.
“We have it on good authority that Mr. President has given approval for the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries as far back as 18th July 2024 at the national minimum wage meeting with the leadership of NLC and TUC.
“Of recent, we also heard that Mr. President has given approval for the actual release of the payment. Regrettably, nothing has been forthcoming despite all the approvals,” both unions stated in September.
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News
Group Protests Alleged Sale Of Workers’ Housing Estate To NAF
Published
6 hours agoon
August 2, 2025By
Editor
Bauchi State Concerned Citizens group has raised alarm over the alleged sale of 270 newly built housing units along Ningi-Kano Road, Bauchi, to the Nigerian Air Force.
Addressing the press, the group’s chairman, Comrade Aliyu Ladan, on Friday described the development as “an unfortunate and illegitimate move” that threatens the rights and welfare of Bauchi residents.
“The houses were part of a 1,000-unit project initiated under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to alleviate accommodation problems for workers.”
READ ALSO: NAF Debunks Fake Recruitment Advert, Warns Nigerians Against Fraudsters
He said the units had already been allocated to residents through a due process managed by the facility manager.
Ladan accused the Federal Ministry of Housing of negotiating with the Air Force to take over the estate, a move he described as “a complete violation of residents’ fundamental rights.”
The group called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, warning that the decision could lead to unrest.
READ ALSO: NAF Airstrikes Kill Terrorists, Destroy Hideouts In Borno
The group demanded the cancellation of the alleged sale and urged the government to protect residents’ rights.
Responding, State Controller of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Architect Nwamadu Herbert, stated that although negotiations are ongoing, no transfer has been made as directives are awaited from the Ministry’s headquarters.
He dismissed the protesters as “illegal occupants,” clarifying that the houses remain under the ministry’s custody pending directives from headquarters.
News
Bauchi Gov To Corps Members: Advocate For National Development, Transformation
Published
6 hours agoon
August 2, 2025By
Editor
Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has called on all the Narional Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to always advocate for national development and transformation in the country.
Mohammed, who made the call during the swearing in ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ stream 1 corps members on Friday, also urged them to take the noble call with utmost seriousness and commit themselves to achieve the scheme’s objective of national unity and development.
Represented by Mr Mohammed Umar, Head of Civil Service in the state, the governor assured the corps members that the people of the state appreciated and supported the goals and objectives of the NYSC scheme.
“Therefore, we have decided to collaborate with you in every possible way to ensure the success of the Scheme in the State.
READ ALSO: NYSC Deploys 1,700 Corps Members To Bauchi State
“To this end, we have completed the renovation of corps members’ hostels and built a brand new Multipurpose Hall in the camp.
“This is the first phase of the project and the second phase, which I assure would start very soon shall include, construction of staff accommodation, a clinic and other necessary facilities.
“I can assure you that my government would continue to do anything within the limit of our resources to make the corps members and staff comfortable during orientation exercises in the camp,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Umoren Kufre, the state Coordinator of NYSC reminded the corps members that life in camp is highly regimented, adding that participants were expected to adhere to the orientation course timetable, NYSC Bye-laws, extant rules and other relevant policies.
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According to him, 1,107 corps members comprising 608 males and 499 females had been successfully registered before the commencement of the swearing in ceremony out of the 1,700 corps members posted to the state.
He commended the state governor for his unwavering commitment to the realisation of the NYSC objectives in the state.
“I am indeed happy for the complete renovation of corps members’ hostels at the NYSC permanent orientation camp and the construction of a brand new Multi-purpose Hall.
“There can be no better demonstration of commitment, love and fatherly care than what we are seeing in the camp now.
“It is now clear for all to see that His Excellency is a great lover of the youths and particularly the corps members,” he said.
News
JUST IN: NNPCL Boss, Ojulari Allegedly Forced To Resign
Published
7 hours agoon
August 2, 2025By
Editor
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, has allegedly been forced to sign a resignation letter.
This is according to a Peoples Gazette report on Saturday.
According to the report, Ojulari was hijacked on Friday and pressured to sign a resignation letter by Ola Olukoyede, chairman of anti-graft EFCC, and Adeola Ajayi, director-general of the State Security Service.
It was reported that the alleged incident occurred on Friday, according to sources who spoke with the news platform.
Sources said Mr Ojulari was repeatedly questioned about what he might know of Olatimbo Ayinde, a British-Nigerian oil businesswoman who has recently emerged as one of the most powerful forces steering the Tinubu administration.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: Tinubu Sacks NNPCL CEO, Mele Kyari, Names Replacement
“Mr Ojulari told us he didn’t know Olatimbo Ayinde,” the source, who preferred anonymity, told Peoples Gazette.
However, the spokesman of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, has not officially responded to the enquiry on the matter.
Also, Mr Ojulari did not immediately return multiple requests seeking comments about the development on Saturday afternoon.
Recall that NNPCL had recently raised alarm over sabotage of the state-owned oil firm’s leadership.
Ojulari was appointed in April 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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