Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities,SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions,in the University of Abuja,are on duty and going about their normal activities despite the nationwide strike declared yesterday by the unions’ national bodies.

Recall that the two bodies yesterday, called on members to begin indefinite nationwide strike within campuses of public universities to demand the immediate release of their four months’ withheld salaries.

In a statement on Sunday co-signed by SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi, the two unions said it was appalling that despite several ultimatums issued to the government, no positive result has come in.

To this end, they directed their members in all public universities and inter-university centres throughout the country to “hold a joint congress in their respective campuses on Monday, October 28, 2024, and proceed on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike action as no concession should be given in any guise”.

But members of the unions were at work on Monday even as the executive members were seen holding congress, considered to be in adherence to the directive of the national bodies of the unions.

It was learnt that the chapters would direct members to proceed on indefinite strike in accordance with the directives of national bodies on Monday.

As at the time of filing this report, no strike directives had been issued as members were at their duty posts.

Contacted to comment on the development, the university’s Director of Public Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob, confirmed that the strike had not been declared in the university by the two bodies.

He said:”Well,as I speak with you now,I’m in my office and some people are here.

“But you know today is when the University of Abuja branch of SSANU is going to have a congress to formally declare the strike.

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Now, whether they have eventually declared the strike in line with the directive of the national body or not is not what I can probably share with you because they are still having the meeting. But at the moment,staff are in their various offices working. I’m here with my staff but that is not out of place since they have not formally declared the strike. They are still having a meeting here.”

Recall also that on September 17, 2023, the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU handed the government a three-week ultimatum to pay the outstanding withheld salaries of their members or risk an industrial action.

Prior to that both unions had staged several protests and warning strikes to protest their eight months’ withheld salaries by the government.