Non-academic staffs of the Lagos State University (LASU) have returned to work in compliance with a national directive of their union to suspend the five-day warning strike declared by its Joint Action Committee (JAC).
Mr Saheed Oseni, Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), LASU chapter Said this on Monday in Lagos that his members had resumed their duties.
The JAC of the non-academic unions of Universities had, on Jan.16, declared the five-day warning strike due the inability of the Federal Government to implement a 2009 agreement with them.
The affected unions are the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Non–Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
They bemoaned poor governance and administrative lapses in the university system, shortfall in payment of staff salaries and other issues which needed to be addressed holistically.
Oseni, however, said the national body of the unions had sent a communiqué to the chapters to resume on Friday, Jan. 20 following a resolution reached by the unions and the Federal Government.
He said the suspension of the strike became necessary because JAC was gaining positive response from the government during their meetings.
”All our workers are back to work and have assumed duties; we are hopeful that the discussion between JAC and the Federal Government will be positive,” he said.
Mr Albert Aguso, Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), LASU chapter said that members of his union had also resumed in compliance with the directive.
”Since JAC and the Federal Government are making progress on the negotiation table, the chapters were directed to resume last week Friday.
”Because the information came late on Thursday night, some chapters who were not privy could not resume until today,” he said.
The announcement of the strike’s suspension by the JAC was contained in a communiqué released on Thursday night.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr Sani Suleiman, President (NAAT), Mr Solomon Alfa, Vice-President (SSANU), Mr Peters Adeyemi, and General Secretary (NASU).
Others signatories were Dr Jamila Suara, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Permanent Secretary in Labour and Employment Ministry, Mr Clement Illoh.
The communiqué stated that on the issue of Earned Allowance, any arrangement by the government should involve all workers and employees in the university system.
On the judgment of the National Industrial Court (NIC) on staff schools in the universities, it said there was urgent need to put the university system on notice to avoid further termination of teachers’ appointment.
The communiqué noted that a committee would be inaugurated by next week to look into the issue of corruption in some of the universities.
It urged the Federal Government to ensure that they do not renege on the 2009 agreement as reaffirmed in the just concluded meeting.
Illoh, who represented the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, commended the unions for their understanding.