Non-academic staff unions at Lagos State University (LASU), on Monday embarked on a five-day warning strike to force the government to fulfill their demands.
The unions, comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and all mobilised by a Joint Action Committee (JAC), said the strike was in compliance with a directive issued by their national leaders.
Speaking on the issue, Chairman, SSANU-LASU Chapter, Mr Saheed Oseni, said that members of the three affected unions at LASU have complied fully, urging government to intervene before the expiration of the five-day action.
“But we will await further directive from our leaders on the next line of action if the government does otherwise, as failure to do the needful, will be unacceptable to the unions,’’ he said.
According to NASU-LASU Chairman, Mr Albert Agosu, the strike would be total throughout the period, adding that the university management was properly briefed before the commencement of the strike.
A statement issued by the Joint Action Committee, revealed that the strike had become necessary given the reluctance of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreement it entered into with the unions.
The statement read: “The university system is challenged by poor governance and administrative lapses which need to be addressed holistically.
“Poor funding of our universities, shortfall in payment of staff salaries, increasing corruption in the university system should be addressed’’.
The statement said further that a letter signed by Mr Samson Ugwoke (SSANU President),Mr Sani Suleiman (President of NAAT) and Chris Ani (NASU President), was sent to the Education Minister, Mr Adamu Adamu, prior to the warning strike to intimate him of the developments, with copies of the letter sent to the Minister Labour and Employment, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission and the President of Nigeria Labour Congress.