By Our Correspondent
Senior staff at the Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa State have officially withdrawn their services, joining their colleagues nationwide in an indefinite strike to pressure the government into addressing their demands.
This decision was announced by Comrade Daniel Dajen, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) at the Federal University of Lafia, following an emergency congress in Lafia.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Comrade Dajen stated, “The strike was necessitated by the federal government’s failure to pay our withheld four months’ salaries.” He added that official activities at both the temporary and permanent campuses of the university have significantly slowed down as a result of the industrial action.
Early in the morning, workers gathered at the university’s Sports Complex to deliberate on the strike. Following the meeting, Comrade Dajen explained that the union has resolved to form a “proactive monitoring team” to ensure full compliance with the strike across the campus.
Comrade Daniel Dajen, Chairman Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Federal University of Lafia
He emphasized the need for federal and state governments to implement a “result-based framework” for agreements reached with the union to prevent further disruptions in Nigeria’s public universities.
Dajen also pointed out that university staff nationwide are facing increasingly tough conditions, citing “inadequate welfare and the non-implementation of policies aimed at improving the system.
The strike has also left students stranded. Miss Rukkaya Aliyu and Peter Dada, students at the university, expressed their frustration. Aliyu said, “We’re disappointed with the situation,” while Dada warned that the strike could spread to other unions if the government fails to act swiftly.
With academic activities stalled and no resolution in sight, the situation remains tense across the university community.