The national president of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Dr. Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, has hinted that members of the association may soon down tools, depending on how the Federal Government handles the lingering negotiations over the 2009 agreement with the union.

He made the remarks at the opening of the SSANU leadership training/workshop held at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State.

Dr Ibrahim expressed concern that the government had been unserious and insincere with the union over the matter, to the extent that after 16 years, the government is even now claiming there had never been an agreement.

“As workers in the university, we are facing a challenge. The 2009 agreement is under threat. After 16 years, the government is claiming there has never been an agreement. We now understand why it was never implemented,” he said.

He, however, warned that the strike, if it eventually takes place, would be “total, indefinite and absolute.”

“Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes’; ours will be the grandfather of all strikes, because when SSANU strikes, when NASU strikes, you know what it means: it’s total, indefinite, absolute. We must take our destinies in our hands,” he said.

He bemoaned university workers’ conditions of service, saying that they are the worst hit financially, economically and psychologically”.

“What we have as our absolute minimum benchmark is that workers and members of SSANU must be paid handsomely. Today, workers in the universities are the worst hit financially, economically, and if you like, psychologically.

“That’s why we’ll continue to canvass for additional payment of our salaries and other allowances. That document that we have prepared (2009 agreement) is an all-encompassing document that we are willing to defend with all the energy in our body, with your support.

“So, rest assured, we are in contact with the government; we are seeing the drama, and we also understand the game even more, and we are not going to rest on our oars; we’ll continue to fight for you.

“What we have pending: we have the 25/35, we have the wage awards, we have the balance of our withheld salaries, we also have our N50 billion that has not been paid.”

The SSANU president enjoined members to “take care of saboteurs,” in case the industrial dispute does take place.

“No frustrations, no considerations; revolution comes with a lot of pains, and there is no gain without pain. Please, do not submit to this idea of ‘essential service’; there is nothing more essential than your life,” he said.