The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) has asked the Federal Government to release the four-month arrears of the withheld salaries of their members.

SSANU faulted the decision of the government to withhold the salaries of members of the union and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Education Institutions.

In a communique signed by SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim at the end of a special National Executive Council meeting of the union, it said the decision of the government to invoke the no work no pay policy was totally unnecessary and had brought about untold hardship to hapless Nigerian citizens.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU embarked on strike on 27th March 2022.

The unions suspended the strike on August 2022 for two months after reaching an agreement with the government.

Part of the communique reads: “The leadership of the union appreciates and commends all members for their resilience in the midst of the hardship experienced during the last industrial action embarked upon by the union.

“It is on record that despite the nonpayment of four months’ salaries, members displayed maturity and loyalty to the union throughout the course of the strike and showed more faith by resuming to their offices based on the assurances by the leadership following the agreement reached with the government.

“Members are urged to continue to have faith in the leadership of the union as no effort shall be spared in pursuing their welfare and rights in the university system.

“NEC noted that the root cause of the recent industrial action embarked upon by the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU was the failure of the government in honouring previous Collective Bargaining Agreements entered into with the Unions.”

SSANU urged the federal government to expedite the process of upholding its part of the terms of agreement on which the strike action was suspended.