On Wednesday, a chorus of discontent echoed through the gates of the University of Lagos as members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAATS) united in protest.
With determination etched on their faces, they formed a human barricade, disrupting vehicular movement and halting the smooth flow of traffic in the vicinity. Their voices rose in unison as they sang anthems of solidarity, each placard they brandished a silent plea for justice.
Their grievances were directed at the Federal Government, with their primary concern being the prolonged withholding of their salaries. For weeks, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU had diligently pressed the government for redress, seeking inclusion in the salary payments that had been disbursed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) since February.
The roots of their frustration traced back to the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, when a ‘No Work, No Pay policy’ was enforced against ASUU, SSANU, and NAATS. These unions had embarked on a series of strikes in 2022, lasting eight months for ASUU, four months for SSANU, and five-and-a-half months for NAATS.
Today, as NAATS also joined the chorus of dissent with a three-day warning strike, the collective voice of university staff reverberated louder than ever, demanding recognition and fair treatment from the authorities.
