We Have Withdrawn Our Concession On Strike- NASU
The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) on Sunday said it has withdrawn earlier concessions to call of the strike action which it embarked on in December last year still continues.
A statement issued by the spokesperson of SSANU, Salaam Abdussobur on the directive of the National President SSANU and Chairman of the Joint Action Committee of NAAT, NASU and SSANU, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, reinforced the decision of the group to continue with the industrial action.
Some institutions in the country had recalled their students back to school and plan to commence academic activities today.
It was learnt that students of University of Lagos for example have returned back to school as lectures start today, Monday January 8, 2018.
However, the striking non-teaching staff remained adamant in their resolve as directed their members across the country, “to ensure that there is full compliance in your branch. Concessions earlier granted out of compassion and sympathy for the system should hereby be withdrawn.
“While the strike action was not targeted at any individual university management, the attitudes of many Vice- Chancellors have shown an unprecedented immaturity and irresponsibility that makes them complicit in the ongoing strike action. We have made the strike action too comfortable for these Vice- Chancellors and as such, you are hereby directed to ensure that all services at your disposal are withdrawn.
“Drivers attached to Vice- Chancellors and other principal officers should be withdrawn. All units including VC’s office, Works and Services, Health Centre, Bursary, Registry, ICT, MIS, Audit and others, should be closed down and non of our members are to be found within the vicinity of their offices. Apart from the strike monitoring teams set up by the Branch executives, no SSANU member should be found within the university premises.”
The JAC in the statement issues last night said it is not unawares of, “the antics of many Vice-Chancellors and Managements to create a semblance of normalcy by announcing resumption of students and other activities, while also seizing every medium to blackmail our branch leaders into ensuring that the strike action is broken. While Managements have rights to announce resumption of activities, our members also have a right to deny the system of their services till their rights are respected and honored.”
It further directed its members to ensure that no Management, Dean or Head of Department coerces SSANU members to render any services and “where an attempt is made to bring people (either staff or external) to perform official function of our members, the attempt must be resisted with all legitimate forces at your disposal. You must also blacklist all saboteurs and renegade members of the union who seek to undermine our strike action for pecuniary gains.
“You are further directed to liaise with the Chairmen of sister unions under JAC to convene Congresses and convey the directives of JAC not later than Wednesday, January 10, 2018.”
