FULafia workers join indefinite nationwide strike over withheld salaries

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Comrade Daniel Dajen

By our reporter Lafia

The Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) workers under the umbrella of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on Monday proceeded on an indefinite nationwide strike over the 4 months withheld salaries.

Briefing newsmen after the Congress, Comrade Daniel Dajen, FULafia SSANU Chairman, said the strike was among other things to press home their demands.

Dajen said apart from the withheld salaries which were key, there were other issues like the renegotiation and the in – allowance which was included in the 2023 budget before the last government left office.

According to Dajen, the declaration of the strike is based on the directive of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Senior Staff Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

Dajen lamented, “It is no longer news that as of 2022 all Universities base unions were all on strike, our 4 months salaries were withheld as a result of that strike.

“When came back from the strike MoU was signed that there should be no victimisation which covers everything.

“We expected that as we resumed our 4 months’ salaries should be paid but nothing was done until when the new government came in and decided to give 50 percent waiver to all the unions.

“Our sisters’ unions got their own since last year and up till now we haven’t gotten anything,”.

Comrade Dajen emphasised that there was no going back as the strike was total and indefinite until their demands were met.

” It is quite appalling that we have issued several ultimatums with no positive result from the government, it is therefore obvious that the federal government is not positively disposed to our demands.

“As it is now we have left with no option than to embark on this strike. So it becomes the kind of a must for us and since this is the only language the government understands,” he said.