‘We Are Losing Confidence In You,’ SSANU And NASU Berate FG Over Half Pay Pledge

THE unions are voicing their concerns after Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman stated on Wednesday, April 10, that SSANU and NASU would only get half of their salaries that were delayed, subject to President Bola Tinubu's permission.

Mamman expressed, “No, it has not been approved. There is a court judgment on 'No work, no pay'. ASUU getting four months' pay was a discretion and decision on the part of the President. So, it doesn't automatically transfer (to NASU and SSANU) but the matter is under consideration.”

The minister stated, “I don't think it is safe to put a time on it but it's safer to say that we are on it and we are pushing,” while discussing when SSANU and NASU will receive their money.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, or ASUU, and SSANU went on an eight-month and four-month strike, respectively, in 2022, and the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari invoked a “No Work, No Pay” policy against them. As a result, the Joint Action Committee, or JAC, of SSANU and NASU ended a one-week warning strike on March 24, 2024, over the withheld salaries.

Since March 2024, the Committee has reminded the government of its exclusion from receiving the withheld salaries when ASUU receives payment in February.

Mamman's announcement was met with disappointment by Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of SSANU/NASU, who claimed the minister's assertion that SSANU/NASU could not be paid was unapproved.

Ibrahim said, “I am disappointed in the Minister of Education, who said there was no approval for the payment of SSANU/NASU withheld salaries. We met in January in the presence of all vice- chancellors and union leaders and they promised to pay us. He is talking about a court case, meanwhile, we didn't go to court, we suspended our strikes after reaching an agreement with Mallam Adamu Adamu (former Minister of Education).”

The Special Advisor to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, stated in a statement on October 20, 2023, that the Federal Government had given a dispensation for the partial payment of delayed salaries for all educational unions. This was recalled by the President of SSANU/NASU.

Speaking as well, SSANU National Vice President Abdussobur Salaam stated: “The implication of the minister's comment is that clearly he does not understand the issues or is being misguided over the issues. We shall not be taking his comments lightly. While I may not say specifically, it is obvious that the comment shall lead our members to make a decision that would lead to unpalatable consequences for our universities. It is better that the minister acts well and acts now, rather than rolling cluelessly on a barber chair.”