Education

NASU, SSANU Extend Strike Ultimatum Over Unresolved Welfare Issues

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has extended the strike ultimatum given to the Federal Government by two weeks.

The unions had initially issued a seven-day ultimatum over unresolved welfare matters, warning of a possible nationwide strike. In a statement signed by SSANU President, Muhammed Ibrahim, they cited “unjust disbursement of earned allowances, non-payment of outstanding entitlements, among others” as key issues.

Ibrahim recalled that the unions first wrote to the government on June 18, 2025, prompting a meeting with the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, on July 4, 2025. However, most of the demands remain unresolved.

In a fresh letter to union chapters nationwide on Tuesday, the leadership said the decision to extend the ultimatum followed a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, on September 19, 2025.

“The leadership of JAC NASU and SSANU, following a meeting on September 22, resolved to keep members informed on the progress of our agitations,” the letter stated.

The letter further noted that a government-appointed consultative committee, including the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and directors from the ministries of Education and Labour, had met to review the unions’ demands. However, “concrete resolutions have not been met,” it added.

The unions stressed that the two-week extension is to allow the government to address their demands. “If the government fails to act within this period, the JAC will proceed with a series of legitimate industrial actions,” the letter concluded.

Olayinka Babatunde