Nigerian Students Lament Impact of SSANU, NASU Indefinite Strike

Published

Monday, October 28, 2024 at 02:57 PM

Written by Daukoru Grey

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Nigerian Students Lament Impact of SSANU, NASU Indefinite Strike

Nigerian students across public universities have expressed deep frustration over the ongoing indefinite strike by members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU). The unions began the strike on Monday, October 28, 2024, following the government's failure to release their withheld salaries for the past four months.


In a joint statement issued by SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi, the unions condemned the federal government for ignoring several ultimatums and pleas to address their grievances. They instructed their members across all public universities and inter-university centers to hold congresses on their campuses and proceed with a comprehensive and indefinite strike.


The effects of the strike have been immediately felt, particularly by students who rely on the administrative and support services provided by non-academic staff. Many students are now left in limbo, unable to submit documents, access lecture rooms, or continue their academic activities according to report.


One of the affected students, Etaso Emmanuel, a prospective Direct-Entry candidate at the Niger Delta University, expressed his frustration to newsmen. "We came to the senate building to submit our DE forms, but due to the strike, we couldn’t. Personally, it’s affecting me both mentally and financially. I had to wake up at 3 AM and travel from Yenagoa to Amassoma, which was very expensive with the current financial hardship in the country," Emmanuel said. He added that several students, some traveling from outside Yenagoa, had also been affected, arriving at the university only to meet the strike.


Emmanuel sympathized with the unions but urged them and the federal government to quickly resolve the issue, emphasizing how the strike disrupts the students’ academic progress. "I understand that they haven’t been paid for four months, which is unacceptable. However, they should also consider how this strike is affecting us. We’ve gone through a lot just to be here today. The government needs to address their demands quickly," he said.


Meanwhile, At the University of Lagos, the NASU chapter has declared total compliance with the strike, insisting that operations would not resume until their demands are met. Branch Chairman Comrade Abiodun Olayinka highlighted how the exclusion of non-academic staff by the federal government had exacerbated their frustration to journalist saying: "The senate building is closed, and this will affect everything. Students won’t be allowed access to lecture rooms or services until our salaries are paid," Olayinka stated.


He further compared the situation to a parent unfairly favoring one child over another. "In a family of four, if a parent feeds only one child and neglects the others, they’re bound to cry out. That’s how we feel. This situation is affecting us emotionally, physically, and mentally," he explained.


Olayinka also stressed that the government's neglect of funding for universities has left facilities in disrepair. "As you can see, the classrooms and university systems are failing. We demand not just our withheld salaries but also proper funding for the universities so that students and staff alike can work in conducive environments."


The strike is expected to continue indefinitely until the government addresses the unions' demands, leaving students anxiously waiting for a resolution that would allow them to resume their studies. With no clear timeline for when the situation will be resolved, the strike is likely to deepen the crisis in the nation’s public universities.



Edited By: Manasseh Paul-Worika

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