By Kayode Abdulazeez, Ilorin
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non-teaching staff unions in the universities, University of Ilorin chapter on Tuesday joined the nationwide strike called by the national body.
The federal universities across the country had on Monday shut down, in compliance with the indefinite strike called by JAC.
The JAC comprises the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
Speaking to newsmen at the entrance of the University of Ilorin, Mr. Suberu Ibrahim, the NASU chairman, UNILORIN Branch, said the strike action will be total and indefinite.
According to him, the action is as a result of the nonpayment of the four months withheld salaries of its members.
Suberu explained that the unions are demanding, among others, the payment of the four-month withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.
“You will recall that in the last few months, we have been agitating for the payment of our withheld salaries, and when we went to the Abuja National protest, President Ahmed Tinubu, in his magnanimity directed that the money should be paid to us.
“Unfortunately, the Minister for Finance refused to pay us,” he alleged.
Also speaking, Mr Falowo Naheem, the Chairman SSANU, Unilorin Chapter expressed displeasure with the treatment the non-teaching staff are getting from the Federal Government.
According to him, the government is yet to fulfill the 2022 agreement, which resulted in strike action.
Naheem stated that the “unions were only taking strike action as the last resort because members were pushed to the wall.
“The situation in Nigeria does not warrant for any government which is insensitive to hold people’s salary. This is a country where you cannot afford transportation, food, hospital bills,” he lamented.
On his part, the National Financial Secretary of SSANU, Mr Akanbi Jimoh, stated that the national body will not relent in fighting for the welfare of its members.