Withheld Salaries: Police Block NASU, SSANU Protest In Abuja

The protest by the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, was on Thursday, stopped by the Police in Abuja.

Osun Defender reports that the unions had announced a one-day nationwide protest over their four-month withheld salaries. 

The unions said the protest became imperative after it held several meetings with the government over the withheld salaries which have not yielded positive results. 

But as soon as the leadership of JAC started addressing members for the protest for onward movement to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, where they are to present letters to the ministers, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe, stormed the Unity Fountain and warned that there would be no protest.

Consequently, the police used armoured vehicle and a Hilux van to block the entry and exit gates to stop the protest.

The medium gathered that as early as 7:30 am, the union members converged on the popular Unity Fountain, Abuja from where they planned to march on the Federal Ministries of Education and Labour and Employment.