The Federal Government has scheduled an emergency meeting with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions today.
According to The PUNCH, the meeting, set for 1 pm at the Office of the Minister of Education, aims to address the unions’ demands, including the payment of four months’ withheld salaries.
The Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU had issued a two-week ultimatum to the government, which expires today.
While the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has received their withheld salaries, the other three unions, including SSANU, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), are still awaiting payment.
A source close to the meeting confirmed that the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has called the meeting to persuade the unions not to embark on a strike.
The unions will also meet with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment at 3 pm today.
The source said, “The Minister of Education has called to meet with SSANU and NASU tomorrow (today) maybe to persuade us not to go on strike. We will honour the invitation. We are also going to meet with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment by 3 pm tomorrow (Thursday).”
It was also gathered that the JAC of SSANU and NASU had scheduled to meet by 10 am on Thursday before going for the meeting.
Recall that the JAC had planned to meet on July 4, after the expiration of the two-week ultimatum to review the response of the government to their demands and declare an indefinite strike if the government refused to pay the withheld salaries.
