The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational (NASU) and Associated Institutions have instructed their members across the country to mobilise for a national demonstration.
In a circular sent to all branch chairmen of the two unions and made accessible to the media in Abuja on Sunday, the unions announced that the demonstration will begin on July 9, 2024, across the federation’s state chapters, followed by a national protest in Abuja on July 18.
The circular was signed jointly by NASU’s General Secretary and SSANU’s National President, Peters Adeyemi and Mohammed Ibrahim.
The unions stated that the protest is in response to a recent breakdown in talks between the two bodies’ Joint Action Committee and the Ministers of Education, Labour, and Employment.
The statement read, “The national body of the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU met on Thursday, July 4, 2024, to appraise and take a position on the current situation in respect of the withheld four months’ salaries and other grievances of our members in university and inter-university centres.
“Similarly, the National JAC, on invitation, met with the Minister of Education, Honourable Minister of State for Education, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, other top officials of the Ministry, and the National Universities Commission.
“Unfortunately, the engagement with the Minister of Education has not shown any convincing commitment to the payment of the withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of the JAC of the two unions.
“It is also disheartening that the JAC was also at the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment, and as usual, the Honourable Minister of State was not on seat to receive us, as we were informed that she had an urgent call from the villa. The Permanent Secretary who stood in for her could not make any commitment on the issues raised.”
According to the circular, the unions stated that they had decided on a series of industrial actions following the failure of the Federal Government to address their grievances.
It added, “In view of this disappointment and failure of the government to address grievances of NASU and SSANU, JAC has decided on a series of industrial actions, which include the following: all branches of NASU and SSANU should mandatorily hold a general meeting on Monday, July 8, 2024, to sensitise members on the insensitivity of the government to our plights.
“A one-day protest should be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at each branch simultaneously. Every branch should ensure that all members fully participate in the protest and that the media is adequately mobilised.
“A national protest will be held in Abuja on Thursday, July 18, 2024, after which JAC will meet to announce a date when the strike action will commence. Further information will be communicated appropriately. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in this regard.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
