Three major non-academic staff unions will decide on Wednesday whether to join the strike by university lecturers.

Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU will meet with Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU, and Non-Academic Technicians, NAT, on Wednesday in Abuja to decide on whether to join ongoing industrial action by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

Abdulsubur Salaam, National Public Relations Officer of SSANU, said during an interview on Sunday that the associations had been “pushed to the wall” by the government.

“The federal government has been discussing with the academics but we have been reaching out to them since before now and they have refused to heed to us,” Mr. Salaam said.

The official listed some of the problems the unions had with the government.

“The issue of staff school that is being negotiated and we are not carried along was agreed on by the four unions in the varsities; our earned allowances have not been paid too and branches are really heaping pressure on us, especially on the staff school issue.

“So full blown strike may be inevitable as at now. However, we would take that meeting on Wednesday and make a decision on this there.”

ASUU had embarked on a nationwide strike last Monday over demands for improved funding of universities and welfare of lecturers.

A meeting between the union and the federal government last Thursday ended in a deadlock.

PT