Strike: NASU, SSANU give FG seven-day ultimatum

…threaten nationwide action over unresolved labour issues

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, threatening to embark on a nationwide strike over unresolved labour issues affecting their members in universities and inter-university centres across the country.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, jointly signed by Prince Peters A. Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU, and Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim, President of SSANU and Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), the unions accused the Federal Government of failing to address their long-standing grievances despite several meetings and correspondence.

The letter, dated September 15, 2025, read in part: “The Honourable Minister of Education would recall that vide a letter dated 18th June, 2025, the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU had drawn your kind attention to the need for an urgent intervention in outstanding labour matters affecting our members. Our letter led to the convening of a meeting by the Honourable Minister of Education with JAC of NASU and SSANU on 4th July, 2025, with a view to addressing the issues raised in our letter.”

The unions stated that the key issues at the heart of their agitation include what they described as the “unjust disbursement of N50 billion earned allowances”, the “non-payment of outstanding withheld salaries and arrears of 25/35 per cent salary increments”, and the “delay in the renegotiation of the 2009 Federal Government, NASU, and SSANU agreements.”

Recalling the events of their July 4 meeting with the Minister, the letter explained: “The Honourable Minister would recall that at the 4th July, 2025 meeting to address the aforestated issues, there was a resolution to the effect that a tripartite committee comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission and JAC of NASU and SSANU would be constituted to resolve the impasse which had arisen due to the skewed distribution of the N50 billion earned allowances, in which our members in the universities were shortchanged, while those in the inter-university centres were completely shut out of the distribution.”

The unions further lamented the government’s silence on the payment of withheld salaries, stating: “While there was no conclusion at the 4th July, 2025 meeting on the issue of payment of two months’ outstanding withheld salaries owed our members, you pledged to set machinery in motion to expedite action on the issue of payment of arrears of 25/35 percent salary increments owed our members.”

According to NASU and SSANU, there has been no significant progress since the meeting. “Sequel to the 4th July, 2025 meeting, there was a reminder letter dated 18th August, 2025, owing to the silence or deliberate decision by your office not to address issues affecting non-teaching staff in our universities and inter-university centres,” the unions wrote.

They also accused the government of sidelining them in the renegotiation of the 2009 agreements. “It is equally important to note that the renegotiation of the Year 2009 FGN and NASU/SSANU Agreements is being delayed.

“It is on record that Alhaji Yayale Ahmed led Renegotiation Committee inaugurated on 15th October, 2024 to review the 2009 agreements with the university-based unions only had inaugural meeting with JAC of NASU and SSANU on 10th December, 2024 and since then the Federal Government team has gone into limbo with the non-teaching staff unions, whereas information at our disposal confirmed that the same Federal Government team has already concluded renegotiation with our counterpart, the Academic Staff Union in the sector and at the verge of signing an agreement while the Federal Government team has refused to engage the non-teaching staff unions and even sidelined us despite fulfilling all justifications including re-submission of our memoranda of demands,” the letter stated.

They reminded the Minister that he had personally promised to intervene on this matter. “We brought this to your attention during our 4th July, 2025, meeting, and you promised to intervene for the committee to expedite action. Regrettably, we are yet to see progress,” the unions said.

The JAC of NASU and SSANU expressed frustration that their repeated efforts to engage with the government have yielded no positive results. “Despite our repeated efforts to draw your attention to address concerns affecting our members in the universities and inter-university centres, there appears to be nothing positive forthcoming from your office,” they declared.

Announcing their next course of action, the unions warned: “In light of the persistent unresolved issues, and the apparent lack of responsiveness from the government to our legitimate concerns, we are compelled to serve a formal notice of seven (7) days effective from Monday, 15th September, 2025, to address our agitations, failing which members of NASU and SSANU would embark on a series of legitimate industrial actions including strikes to press home our demands.”

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