The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) has extended its strike ultimatum to the Federal Government by an additional two weeks.
The unions had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum over unresolved welfare issues, including unpaid allowances, threatening a nationwide strike if their demands were ignored.
Unions Protest “Unjust” Allowance Disbursement
In a joint letter signed by SSANU President Muhammed Ibrahim, the unions accused the Federal Government of “unjust disbursement of earned allowances” and failure to pay outstanding benefits owed to university staff.
The unions recalled an earlier letter dated June 18, 2025, which highlighted these issues and led to a meeting with the Minister of Education on July 4, 2025.
Meeting With Education Ministry Stalls Resolution
In their fresh update, the unions said they met with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, on September 19, 2025. The meeting, attended by key stakeholders including the National Universities Commission (NUC) and officials from the Ministry of Labour, focused on their demands but produced no concrete resolutions.
Two-Week Extension Before Strike
Following the stalled talks, the JAC leadership resolved to extend the ultimatum by two weeks, starting Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
“This extension provides the government with an opportunity to initiate the requisite processes to address our demands. If the government fails to do the needful within this extended period, the JAC will summarily proceed with a series of legitimate industrial actions,” the unions warned.
What’s at Stake
The unions insist their members will not hesitate to embark on industrial action if the Federal Government fails to address issues including:
- Outstanding earned allowances
- Fair welfare distribution
- Unresolved labour disputes in inter-university centres
With tensions rising, the next two weeks will be critical for the government to avert another round of crippling strikes in the nation’s universities.
