The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union have declared a 7-day warning strike to demand the payment of four months of withheld salaries of their members, after the 2022 nationwide strike.

The decision was part of the resolution of the joint action committee of the two unions, after a meeting held in Akure at the weekend.

President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim who read the Communiqué of the meeting to journalists in Abuja on Monday, noted that the decision to embark on the warning strike was taken as a last resort since several protest letters and other communications with the Federal Government, did not result in the payment of the withheld salaries.

The fresh development comes on the heels of recent nationwide protests by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over current economic hardship, which had led to skyrocketing costs of living across the country.

According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the inflation rate rose to 29.90 per cent in January.

Hike in prices of food and services have generated protests, especially in the North-East, with residents seen looting food warehouses and trailers, as confirmed by the Department of State Services on Friday.

“This time around, it is going to be a total strike. For seven days, there will be no water, no electricity, no medicals, no office work. Everybody will leave his office work until when those seven days reach.” – SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim says his union and NASU are set for comprehensive strike from next week, March 18 over four months withheld salaries