BREAKING: NASU, SSANU begin indefinite strike Friday

Operations in Nigeria's federal universities are set to grind to a halt as the Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) commence an indefinite strike. The Punch reports that the unions conveyed their decision in a letter dated April 30, 2026, addressed to the Minister of Education, citing the Federal Government's persistent failure to conclude renegotiations and present a satisfactory offer regarding allowances.

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We write to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence and to equally appreciate the Honourable Minister of Education for withdrawing the contentious letter.

The core of the dispute lies in the perceived slow pace of the renegotiation process and the government's handling of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance. While the government withdrew a contentious circular proposing a 30% increase, it has failed to present an alternative proposal, leaving the unions dissatisfied. NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim stated that the withdrawal of the letter did not resolve the fundamental issues and that their members mandated action if negotiations were not concluded by April 30.

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Despite this, the withdrawal did not resolve the core issues in dispute.

This industrial action is a significant blow to the Nigerian university system, which has been plagued by recurring strikes. From the perspective of the unions and their members, this strike is an inevitable consequence of the government's lack of meaningful engagement and failure to address their legitimate demands. The article, published by The Punch, reflects the frustration of these essential university workers who feel their contributions are undervalued and their rights are being disregarded. The strike is expected to disrupt administrative and support services, impacting students and the overall functioning of these institutions, highlighting a persistent challenge in Nigeria's higher education sector.

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The consensus outcome of the consultation is that our demand vis-à-vis the slow pace of the renegotiation process has not been met.