SSANU, NASU Issue FG 7-Day Ultimatum over Unmet Demands

Non-academic staff of federal universities in Nigeria, under the auspices of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have given the federal government seven days ultimatum, beginning from Monday, September 15, 2025 to address their demands or face industrial action.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the unions said that despite their repeated efforts to draw the government’s attention to address concerns affecting members in the universities and inter-university centres, nothing significant was being done.

The unions raised a number of issues including: Alleged unjust disbursement of N50 billion earned allowances; non-payment of outstanding withheld salaries and 25/35 per cent salary increments; and renegotiation of 2009 FGN and NASU/SSANU agreements.

“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 notice of seven days effective from Monday, 15 September, 2025 to address our agitations, failing which members of NASU and SSANU would embark on a series of legitimate industrial actions including strikes to press home our demands,” the groups stated.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the unions said they had earlier in a letter dated June 18, 2025, drawn the minister’s attention to the need for an urgent intervention in outstanding labour matters affecting their members.

According to the unions, there was a resolution to the effect that a Tripartite Committee comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission and JAC of NASU and SSANU would be constituted to resolve the impasse which had arisen due to the skewed distribution of the N50 billion earned allowances.

Both unions alleged that their members in the universities were short-changed, while those in the inter-university centres were completely shut out of the distribution of the allowance.

They also said that the minister pledged to set machinery in motion to expedite action on the issue of payment of arrears of 25/35 per cent salary increments owed members.

Regarding the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, the non-academic staff union alleged that while the federal government team had already concluded renegotiation with their counterpart, the academic staff union and is on the verge of signing an agreement, there was no progress in the negotiation with other unions.