Administrative activities at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) were brought to a halt on Thursday as members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) staged a one-day protest to demand that the Federal Government meet their long-standing demands. The protest, led by Comrade Linus Akata, Chairman of SSANU-UNN, and Comrade William Amu, Chairman of NASU-UNN, saw protesters march through major roads on campus chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with inscriptions such as “FGN honour the 2009 agreement now”, “Pay our withheld salary”, and “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Addressing journalists during the protest, Akata and Amu explained that the demonstration was in compliance with a directive from the national Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU, which had instructed all chapters in universities and inter-university centres to embark on a one-day protest on Thursday, October 9. They described the protest as a “final warning” to the government, stressing that failure to respond to their grievances could lead to a total nationwide strike.
The union leaders warned that if the Federal Government failed to act, the planned indefinite strike would completely paralyze both administrative and academic activities in public universities across the country. “Parents and Nigerians should prevail on the government to meet our demands because if we go on strike, it will be total and comprehensive,” they said, noting that all lecture halls would be shut down during the industrial action.
Their demands include the implementation of the 2009 agreement between the unions and the Federal Government, the payment of withheld salaries, and the remittance of third-party deductions from previously paid salaries. They also called for the payment of earned allowances owed to members. The protest ended peacefully, but activities at UNN remained largely suspended throughout the day as the unions vowed to continue the struggle until their demands are met.