Abuja — Nigerian universities face another looming crisis as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have declared plans to embark on an indefinite strike from September 22, 2025.
The warning came in a 7-day ultimatum issued through their Joint Action Committee (JAC), effective from September 15. The unions accused the Federal Government of neglecting non-teaching staff welfare despite repeated appeals.
The Core Demands
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, signed by Prince Peters A. Adeyemi (NASU General Secretary) and Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim (SSANU President), the unions highlighted the following unresolved issues:
- Non-renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU Agreement
- Unjust disbursement of ₦50 billion earned allowances (excluding inter-university centres)
- Non-payment of two months’ withheld salaries
- Failure to implement 25% and 35% salary increments for members
The unions lamented that despite a meeting on July 4, 2025, which resolved to set up a tripartite committee with the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), and JAC, no tangible progress had been made.
Government Accused of Indifference
The letter accused the Minister of Education of treating non-teaching staff with levity, noting that reminder letters (including one dated August 18, 2025) had gone unanswered.
“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 7-day notice,” the unions declared.
They further condemned the exclusion of inter-university centres from allowance distribution and the continued delay in salary arrears payment, calling the situation “unjustifiable.”
What’s Next?
If the government fails to meet their demands by September 22, SSANU and NASU warned they will embark on full-scale industrial action, including strikes, to press home their grievances.
The looming strike raises fears of another round of disruptions in Nigeria’s public universities, which have already suffered years of academic instability due to recurring staff union disputes.
