The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over unresolved welfare issues, warning of a nationwide strike.
In a joint letter signed by SSANU President, Muhammed Ibrahim, the unions decried the “unjust disbursement of earned allowances, non-payment of outstanding salaries and arrears, and stalled renegotiation of agreements.”
The letter recalled that the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU had earlier written to the government on June 18, 2025, highlighting unresolved matters. That letter led to a meeting with the Minister on July 4.
According to the unions, discussions centred on:
- the skewed N50bn earned allowances distribution,
- non-payment of two months’ withheld salaries,
- arrears of 25/35% salary increments, and
- the delayed renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreement.
While a tripartite committee of the Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC) and JAC was agreed upon to address the allowance issue, the unions lamented that no progress has been made.
They also accused the Federal Government of sidelining non-teaching staff in renegotiations.
“It is on record that the Federal Government team has already concluded renegotiation with our counterpart, ASUU, and is at the verge of signing an agreement, while the non-teaching staff unions have been abandoned,” the letter read.
Despite reminders, including one dated August 18, the unions said government’s inaction left them with no choice but to serve a seven-day strike notice effective September 15, 2025.
Last week, Ibrahim warned of a crippling shutdown if the government fails to act.
“Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes’; it will be the grandfather of all strikes. The conditions of service of university workers are the worst hit financially, economically and psychologically,” he declared.
Like the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), SSANU and NASU have been in a long-running dispute with the Federal Government over welfare, allowances, and conditions of service.