DSS Arrests SSANU, NASU Members over Strike

DSS Arrests SSANU, NASU Members over Strike.

It has been reported that the Department of State Services (DSS) has invited some members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) branch over the ongoing strike action.

According to the Ilorin branch chairman of SSANU, Olumayowa Oyedepo, about seven members of the unions were invited by the secret police for questioning.

Oydepo accused the school management of being behind the invitation, adding that the members were questioned for about two hours before they were released.

He said officials grilled by the DSS are M. J. Akanbi, branch secretary of SSANU; T. M. Saheed, branch Secretary of NASU; Flourish Josephine, Kwara State Council; Idris Alata, and Adejumo Olusola.

Oyedepo stated members of the institution also joined in the strike on Monday after the joint action committee (JAC) of both unions had directed its branches to embark on strike starting from February 5, 2021.

He said: “We commenced our nationwide strike today and went round the offices to check if our members are at work; we met two people that are not our members locked inside the Network Operating Centre (NOC) and after those guys came out of the room we discovered that they are not our members, so we handed them over to the school security.

 “The industrial action started on a good note with total compliance by members until the DSS came to invite our chairmen (SSANU and NASU) for questioning at their state office at the instance of the university management. The chairmen and other officials obliged the invitation, had discussion with the DSS operatives and had since returned back to their houses.”