The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) has shut down administrative and support services across federal universities, citing the Federal Government’s failure to replace a withdrawn allowance and conclude renegotiations with non-teaching staff.
The nationwide strike commenced at midnight on Friday, 1 May 2026, following a resolution by union members to proceed with industrial action if negotiations remained unresolved by 30 April.
In a letter dated 30 April 2026 and addressed to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, formally conveyed the unions’ decision.
“We write to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence and to equally appreciate the Honourable Minister of Education for withdrawing the contentious letter,” the union leaders stated, referring to the earlier circular proposing a 30 per cent increase in the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance.
However, they noted that the withdrawal failed to resolve the substantive issues in dispute.
“The consensus outcome of the consultation is that our demand vis-à-vis the slow pace of the renegotiation process has not been met,” they said.
The unions stressed that no alternative proposal had been presented following the withdrawal of the allowance circular.
“While the letter on the withdrawal of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance is acknowledged, no new offer has been made to supersede the 30 per cent allowances contained in the withdrawn letter,” they added.
According to JAC, the deadline set by members expired without meaningful progress.
“In view of this, with the agreement not concluded as of 30 April 2026, and with no new offer, the strike action shall commence by 12 a.m. on 1 May 2026,” the letter read.
The unions described the total shutdown of services as unavoidable after repeated delays in negotiations.
“We hereby inform the Federal Government that, as a result of its failure to avert the strike by positively acceding to our demands, all members will commence total and comprehensive strike action from Friday, 1 May 2026,” Adeyemi and Ibrahim added.
