The union, however, backed the university-based unions in their industrial action.

The union also says it will not hesitate to declare a solidarity strike in support of the unions if the government fails to resolve the issue within a reasonable time.

Recall that since February 14, 2022, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union, the Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, Research Institute and Associated Institutions; and the National Association of Academic Technologists had embarked on strike to press home their demands on the implementation of the Memorandum of Action signed in December 2020 on funding for the revitalisation of public universities.

Other demands are renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution; the inconsistent issue of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, unpaid earned allowances, and non-payment of minimum wage arrears; among others.

Reacting, to the continuous refusal by FG to grant ASUU’s demand keeping thousands of Nigerian students in their home for the past four months, the MHWUN’s National President, Biobelemoye Josiah, and the Acting Secretary-General, Auwalu Kiyawa, in a statement said the union is disheartening that the government’s actions and response had been more of “motion without movement.”

According to the union, “No responsible government would close down its public tertiary institutions in this 21st century because of patriotic demands for better funding of its universities and good welfare for its teaching and non-teaching staff. This is shameful.

“The Leadership of the MHWUN is particularly irked that the Federal Government and the political actors have abandoned the children of the poor masses at home to waste away, instead they are seen dissipating energy and resources that could have been used to resolve the issue to fund political tussle to occupy plum offices that previous occupiers have failed to use for the benefit of the masses. We are more worried with the development because the academic future of the citizenry is being disrupted whereas the politicians and top government officials have their children mostly in well-funded and equipped oversea schools or in relatively expensive private schools in Nigeria.

“Discerning minds will agree with us that the negative impact of the strike on the future of our children and Nigeria, in general, cannot be quantified. We call on people of goodwill to stand up in defense of the right and future of our children and Nigeria, by demanding the government do the right thing and bring back these children to the classroom.

“We condemn in strong terms the lethargic attitude of the government in resolving the issues in contention. In order to protect the future of our youths whose academic life is being disrupted, we call on the government to implement without further delay all the agreements it had entered with the unions.”

Similarly, SSANU’s National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, urged members of the union to remain resolute.

“While we expect the leaders of our nation to make concerted efforts in living up to our expectations, we, as individuals, must take responsibility for our safety and be security conscious in our daily movements and endeavors,” Ibrahim said.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, stated this during a meeting of the presidential committee on salaries with the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, the Federal Government pays the salaries of doctors and health workers at the exact time.

The minister said the explanation became necessary to address the members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

NARD members are currently on strike over alleged salary irregularities.

However, Ngige said: “NARD goes about telling Nigerians that the government is owing them salaries, and as well not taking the problems in the health sector seriously. But this is not true. It is incorrect.

“No doctor, nurse, pharmacist or any other health worker, including the driver, is owed a monthly salary. Government pays as and when due.

“The truth is that NARD fails to tell Nigerians that their colleagues who are owed salaries are the ones illegally recruited. Therefore, they were neither captured by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, nor were their payments provided for by the  Budget Office of the Federation.

“Monthly salaries are done as and when due for those legitimately employed by the federal government, but not to those illegally employed or need their appointments regularised and captured in the finances of government for payment.”

The Health Workers also urged the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, to take over the negotiations between them and government from the substantive Minister Senator Chris Ngige.

They accused Senator Ngige who incidentally is a medical doctor of compromise.

The National Chairman of JOHESU, Comrade Bio Joy Josiah disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

He said that the commitment of the union to resolve issues through dialogue has been taken for granted.

Josiah said the government looks at the health workers as people who cannot bear hunger, adding that the union from September 13 would test its ability whether hunger would kill its members or not.