Unions Give FG Seven B-day Ultimatum Over University Staff Welfare

Unions Give FG Seven-Day Ultimatum Over University Staff Welfare

 

 

 

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to resolve long-standing grievances affecting non-academic university staff.

 

In a letter dated Monday and signed by SSANU President, Muhammed Ibrahim, the unions decried the “unjust” disbursement of earned allowances, non-payment of outstanding salaries, and delays in renegotiating agreements affecting their members.

 

The unions reminded the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, of a letter dated June 18, 2025, in which the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU highlighted urgent labour matters requiring government intervention. A follow-up meeting convened on July 4, 2025, led to the agreement to form a Tripartite Committee including representatives from the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission, and the JAC of NASU and SSANU.

 

The unions said the committee has yet to resolve the “skewed distribution of the N50 billion earned allowances,” where members in universities were reportedly shortchanged while those in inter-university centres were completely excluded.

 

The letter further stated that two months of outstanding salaries remain unpaid, and arrears from the 25–35 per cent salary increments have not been addressed. It also accused the government of sidelining non-teaching staff in renegotiating the 2009 NASU/SSANU agreements, while concluding arrangements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

 

“The persistent unresolved issues and the government’s lack of responsiveness leave us no choice but to issue this formal notice. If our demands are not met within seven days, NASU and SSANU members will embark on legitimate industrial actions, including strikes,” the letter read.

 

Last week, Ibrahim warned that any strike by the unions would be “total, indefinite and absolute,” citing the dire financial, economic, and psychological conditions affecting university non-teaching staff.

 

SSANU and NASU have consistently been at odds with the federal government over staff welfare, echoing similar disputes involving ASUU.