Universities to be disbanded, when SSANU, NASU started strike

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Institutions and Associations (NASU) have directed their members in universities across the country to commence “total and comprehensive strike action” from May 1, 2026.

The unions have given the Federal government until April 30, 2026 to meet their demands or they will go on industrial strike.

Both university unions deplore the Federal Government’s alleged inaction in completing the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement for non-teaching staff unions and the denial of a 30 percent pay increase for workers in the sector.

In a circular addressed to all branch heads, NASU and SSANU at universities and inter-university centres, and signed by Secretary General, NASU, Peters Adeyemi, and President, SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, on Thursday, union members lamented the slow pace of the renegotiation agreement, and stressed that industrial action was inevitable if their demands, were not met by that date.

The national leadership of the NASU and SSANU Joint Action Committee (JAC) said they held a meeting on Wednesday with the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, among other top government officials in the education sector, where they highlighted their demands and rejection of the outstanding 30 percent CONTTA award letter.

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Union members said although the government team vigorously appealed to the NASU and SSANU Joint Action Committee to cancel the strike notice, they said, however, there was no new offer to replace the 30 percent CONTTA award, or a firm commitment as to when the renegotiation exercise would be completed.

“However, considering the members’ mandate, only full agreement to our demands contained in our letters referring to JAC/NS/VOL.III/63 and JAC/NS/VOL.III/65 dated March 27 and April 18, 2026 respectively, would be acceptable, and the leadership, after consultation, decided to maintain the mandate.

“In view of this, we hereby direct our members to initiate a total and comprehensive strike action on all university campuses and inter-university campuses starting at 12.00 on May 1, 2026.

“All NASU and SSANU members are hereby ordered to comply with this directive for the sake of our continued existence in the system,” the circular said.