The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of universities (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have staged a peaceful protest over unmet demands.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the peaceful protest was held at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Samaru campus, on Thursday.
NAN also reports the protest was sequel to what the unions described as the Federal Government’s failure to meet their outstanding demands.
Briefing Newsmen on the sideline of the protest, Malam Mohammed Yunusa, JAC Chairman, ABU Zaria branch, said the action followed a directive from the JAC national headquarters in Abuja for a one-day nationwide protest.
NAN reports that the protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as; “Enough is Enough, pay our withheld salaries”, “FG honor our 2009 agreement” and “Justice delayed is Justice denied” among others.
According to Yunusa, the protest is hinged on key issues such as; earned allowances, unpaid salaries, and renegotiation of the 2009 agreement among other unresolved issues.
He further explained that the protest stems from unresolved grievances on disbursement of the earned allowance.
“₦50 billion earned allowances was agreed to be paid to us but only a paltry sum of N10 billion was paid by the government.
“Delay in renegotiating the 2009 FGN/NASU-SSANU agreement; Non-payment of two months’ outstanding withheld salaries and Non-payment of 25 and 30 per cent salary arrears among others,” he said
The JAC chairman said the protest was to draw the attention of government and other key stakeholders to their plight, while pressing for the immediate implementation of all outstanding agreements and payments.
He, therefore, said once the national body directed for the an Indefinite closure of the universities the ABU chapter would immediately comply. (NAN)
