The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) have given the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to resolve lingering welfare issues, warning of a nationwide strike if their demands are not met.
In a joint letter signed by SSANU President, Muhammed Ibrahim, the unions condemned what they described as the unjust disbursement of earned allowances, non-payment of outstanding entitlements, and other unresolved labour concerns.
Ibrahim recalled that the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU had earlier written to the government on June 18, 2025, highlighting the issues. That letter led to a meeting with the Minister on July 4, 2025.
At that meeting, it was agreed that a Tripartite Committee — made up of the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission, and JAC — would be set up to address the skewed distribution of ₦50bn earned allowances. According to the unions, their members in universities were shortchanged, while those in Inter-University Centres were excluded entirely.
They added that while no resolution was reached on the payment of two months’ withheld salaries, the government pledged to expedite action on arrears of the 25/35 per cent salary increments. However, despite a reminder letter on August 18, 2025, the unions said nothing has been done.
On the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreement, the unions noted that although the Yayale Ahmed-led committee was inaugurated on October 15, 2024, and held an inaugural meeting with JAC on December 10, 2024, talks have since stalled. They alleged that the Federal Government team had already concluded negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), but sidelined non-teaching staff despite their compliance with all requirements, including submitting their memoranda of demands.
“In light of the persistent unresolved issues and the lack of government responsiveness, we are compelled to serve formal notice of seven days effective from Monday, September 15, 2025. If our demands are not addressed, members of NASU and SSANU will embark on a series of industrial actions, including strikes,” the unions warned.
Last week, SSANU President Ibrahim had cautioned that the looming action would be crippling. “Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes,’ it will be the grandfather of all strikes. When SSANU or NASU strikes, you know what it means. We must take our destinies in our hands,” he said.
He lamented the worsening plight of non-teaching staff, describing their conditions of service as “the worst hit financially, economically, and psychologically.”
SSANU and NASU, like their counterpart ASUU, have for years been in recurring disputes with the Federal Government over welfare, salary arrears, and working conditions.
ADEOLA KUNLE
