Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), on Thursday, staged a protest at the University of Abuja main campus, demanding better welfare and immediate government action on pending labour issues.

The demonstration is part of a nationwide protest declared by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of both unions after the expiration of a two-week ultimatum issued to the Federal Government to meet their long-standing demands.

Chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards, the protesting university workers called for the renegotiation of the 2009 Federal Government-NASU/SSANU agreement, as well as the immediate payment of 25 and 35 per cent salary increments recently announced by the government.

They also demanded the release of withheld salaries, payment of arrears, and improved working conditions across federal and state-owned universities.

Some of the placards carried by the protesters bore inscriptions such as “Pay Our Withheld Salaries Now,” “Implement the 2009 Agreement,” and “Respect Collective Bargaining, Honour Your Promises.”

The workers, under the umbrella of JAC, warned that failure to meet their demands could lead to a full-scale strike across universities, describing the protest as a warning signal to the government.

“We are using this protest to draw attention to the plight of non-teaching staff in universities. Our patience has been overstretched. The government must act fast to avert another industrial crisis,” a union leader said.

The protesters also accused the government of insincerity and delay in addressing key welfare issues that have lingered for years, insisting that the implementation of the 2009 agreement remained a non-negotiable commitment.

The Joint Action Committee had, in a circular dated September 15, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve its concerns, later extending it by another two weeks.

The ultimatum expired on October 6, prompting the unions to mobilise for the one-day protest across campuses nationwide.

Their demands include:

Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement with the Federal Government.
Immediate payment of 25 and 35 per cent salary increments.
Settlement of outstanding salaries and arrears.
Payment of deductions and correction of irregularities in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Naijaonpoint reports that the protest at the University of Abuja remained peaceful, with a heavy presence of security personnel ensuring order.

Participants marched through the university’s main gates, waving placards and singing solidarity songs.

“This is just the beginning. If the government fails to act, we will escalate our action. We are fighting for fairness and dignity,” another protester said.

The unions vowed to sustain their agitation until their demands are met, saying that the welfare of university workers is key to the stability and efficiency of Nigeria’s higher education system.

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