Olugbenga Adenaiya, the acting chairman of the University of Lagos branch of the Senior Staff Union of Universities (SSANU), sat on one of the raised pavements in front of the university’s senate building. Other members of SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities surrounded the area. If it were a regular day, Adenaiya and other members of both unions would be discharging their duties in their respective offices.

But there they were, away from their offices and going around the university to ensure other members stayed away from work.

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On Monday, NASU and SSANU embarked on a seven-day joint warning strike to express their grievances over the failure of the federal government to fulfil the 2009 agreements and pay their accrued four-month salaries from the period they were on strike in 2022.

WHY NASU AND SSANU ARE ON STRIKE

In 2009, the four university-based staff unions, comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Applied Academic Technologists (NAAT) and National Association of Non-Academics of Educational Institutions Staff Union (NASU), signed an agreement with the federal government.

“Under normal circumstances, there should be a renegotiation of agreements every five years. But the renegotiation is not working. It is always collapsing. Another issue is the set-up of councils. Councils should be in every university, but since this government came into power, no council has been constituted,” Adenaiya told FIJ.

FIJ learned this is the second time NASU and SSANU have gone on strike in two years. In 2022, NASU, SSANU and ASUU went on strike. That year, the three unions constituted a tripartite committee that met with the government and negotiated on different occasions.

During the strike, the federal government introduced the ”no work, no pay policy” and withheld their salaries. Before calling off the strike, the unions demanded that the government address their demands and also pay their withheld salaries.

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Abiodun Olayinka Noah, the chairman of NASU at UNILAG, told FIJ that none of these agreements had been fulfilled.

“Before a union can go on strike, they have to follow due process, and we followed due process. Is it possible to shift the goalpost in the middle of a game? We embarked on a strike when the government failed to fulfil any of the agreements, and in the middle of the strike, the government introduced no work, no pay in 2022,” Noah told FIJ.

“We understand that the only language the government understands is strike and it is always the last resort.”

“The issue of withheld salaries is the main concern. The message is clear, simple and direct. Our outstanding salaries withheld for four months should be paid.”

“It is not only SSANU that is on strike. NASU is on strike. These two unions are jointly on strike. We are on strike because the government refused to pay our four-month withheld salaries that were accrued when we were on strike in 2022,” said Adenaiya.

ARE THE EFFECTS OF THE STRIKE BEING FELT ON CAMPUSES ACROSS THE FEDERATION?

When these unions go on strike, the effects are usually felt by university students. Porters of hostels, librarians, janitors and some administrative staff constitute NASU, for instance. When the union embarks on an industrial action, one expects that these staff are unavailable in their designated positions, but this was not the case.

Some porters were still in UNILAG hostels when this reporter visited on Tuesday. This reporter spoke to some students at UNILAG, who said they were unaware there was a strike.

“Is there even a strike? The porters in the hostel are still around,” said a student.

FIJ learned that some students were writing exams. Unlike the University of Calabar, where examinations were disrupted as a result of the strike, examinations were still ongoing without any disruption at UNILAG.

Another student told FIJ that some students were not allowed to write their exams on Monday morning but were eventually allowed to write them shortly afterward.

Noel (not real name) told FIJ the wifi in the school’s library was turned off on Tuesday because of the NASU strike. He also said the library now closed earlier than it usually did.

“This is affecting our productivity. One of my friends wanted to apply for something academically related but he could not do so because the wifi was off,” said Noel.

Students at the University of Ilorin are also writing examinations. Grace, a student in her penultimate year, told FIJ that the porters in her hostel were still there.

Grace also told FIJ that the school’s library was closed on Monday. She added that the library was open on Tuesday but there had been a change in the opening hours.

“Usually, the library is open 24/7 when examinations are on, but they are now open between 8 am and 6 pm,” she told FIJ.

The University of Ilorin Students’ Union announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the change in opening hours was a result of the NASU and SSANU strike.

AN END IN SIGHT?

Adenaiya told FIJ they would return to their duties if the government did not respond within seven days and await directives from their national leaders.

“If, by next Monday, the government does not take any positive action, we will resume our work until we get directives from our national leaders. But we hope they will do something because they have invited our national leaders to a meeting,” said Adenaiya.

Noah and Adenaiya also added that they were ready to return to their duties if the government paid their withheld salaries.