Following a seven-day strike initiated by members of the university’s Non-Academic Staff Union and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, operations at the University of Jos, Plateau State, were suspended on Monday.
The university’s gates were closed when our correspondent visited on Monday, leaving staff and students who attempted to enter trapped.
SSANU and NASU announced a seven-day warning strike on Monday.
According to the unions, the declaration was made in order to demand that, following the nationwide strike in 2022, the Federal Government release their members’ paychecks that had been withheld for four months.
On Sunday, newsm was informed by Muhammad Ibrahim, the National President of SSANU, that the two unions were scheduled to go on strike across the country.
However, Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, claims to be ignorant about the SSANU/NASU planned walkout.
Despite this, Monday Danjuma Kpaji, the chairman of NASU’s branch at the institution, and Anthony T. Joro, the chairman of SSANU, stated that the seven-day strike was in accordance with a directive from their national secretariat in a letter that both organisations jointly sent to the university’s vice chancellor.
Our correspondent in Jos saw the letter on Monday, which was copied to the Director of State Services and the Commissioner of Police in Plateau State.
Part of it said, “From the secretariat of the University of Jos branch of the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU, we bring you fraternal greetings.”
“This is to officially inform you that our National Secretariat has declared a seven-day warning strike with effect from Monday, March 18 to Sunday, March 24, 2024, respectively.
“Accordingly, this is to put you on notice that all our services will be withdrawn with no concession, from midnight of Sunday, March 17, 2024, till Sunday, March 24, 2024.”
According to a previous report, members of SSANU and NASU at the University of Ilorin went on strike on Monday as per the direction from the national bodies of both unions.
