Why the Strike?
Workers at Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), have taken a bold step by embarking on an indefinite strike. The decision came after years of frustration over unpaid welfare benefits and delayed financial entitlements.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC), which represents the Non-Academic Staff Union of Associated and Educational Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), announced the strike after holding an emergency congress on Tuesday.
According to JAC, the strike was triggered by:
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Failure to implement the new national minimum wage.
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Non-payment of the 25/35% salary increase.
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Accumulated arrears owed to staff.
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Lack of promotion increments for staff promoted between 2022 and 2024.
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Non-payment of gratuities and pensions with arrears.
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Suspension of monthly remittances to the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Union’s Position
JAC Chairman, Comrade Shishi Luper, explained that the union had issued three ultimatums before the strike but management failed to act.
“The goodwill of the congress to maintain peace has been stretched. Members are facing untold hardship because their welfare needs remain ignored,” he said.
Management’s Response
The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ubwa, and the Registrar, Mr. Barnabas Hemba, attended the emergency congress, appealing for more time. Ubwa reportedly asked for an extension until the end of September to resolve the issues.
However, when put to a vote, the majority of members rejected the request and chose to proceed with an immediate strike action.
Next Steps
Following the declaration, JAC directed all members to:
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Withdraw their services.
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Stay away from work until their demands are met.
This strike has raised concerns about the smooth running of academic and administrative activities at MOAUM, with students and other stakeholders likely to feel the impact in the coming weeks.
