The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have jointly declared a seven-day warning strike to demand the payment of four months withheld salaries of their members.
The decision was part of the resolution of the joint action committee of the two unions, after a meeting which held in Akure at the weekend.
President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, conveyed the unions’ stance during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday. According to him, the strike action was deemed necessary as previous attempts, including protest letters and engagements with the Federal Government, failed to yield the desired outcome.
The move comes against the backdrop of nationwide unrest regarding economic challenges. Few weeks ago, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) staged protests across the country over the current economic hardship, which has led to high cost of living across the country.
The situation has been particularly acute in the North-East region, where protests erupted due to the surge in prices of essential commodities and services. Instances of looting from warehouses and moving trailers have been reported, drawing attention to the severity of the crisis.
The Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed the incidents on Friday, highlighting the urgency of addressing the economic challenges.