SSANU, NASU to commence nationwide indefinite strike on Friday

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities SANU), and  the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions  (NASU) have announced plans to embark on a nationwide indefinite strike starting Friday, May 1,

The public university worker made this known in a letter to their members on Thursday, citing the government’s failure to complete the ongoing 2009 agreement renegotiation with the unions, among other demands.

Mohammed Ibrahim, the president of SSANU, and Peters Adeyemi, the general secretary of NASU, signed the directive, respectively, and disseminated it to their members.

The directive with reference number Ref: JAC/NSNOL./68 mandated all members of the unions to embark on strike as from Friday, May 1, 2026.  “Circular to all branch chairmen of NASU, and SSANU in the universities, and inter-university centres; commencement of strike action.”

The decision is expected to disrupt administrative and support services across public universities, intensifying pressure on the federal government to address the lingering issues.

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Besides, it will put an end to the bragging rights of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of halting the hitherto frequent workers’ strikes in the university system.

The National leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU held a meeting on Wednesday with Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education.

Other government officials at the meeting include Suwaiba Ahmad, the minister of state for education; Abel Enitan, the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education; Abdullahi Ribadu, the executive secretary at National Universities Commission (NUC), and Angela Ajala, executive secretary of National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), as well as other top officials of other government parastatals and agencies.

The circular further highlighted that the discussion at the meeting centred on the slow pace of the Renegotiation of 2009 Agreements for the Non-Teaching Staff Unions and our demand for its conclusion not later than 30th April, 2026, which the unions rejected the 30 percent CONTTA award letter.

“It is necessary to inform members that, while the government team passionately appealed to the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU to rescind the strike notice, they have also withdrawn the 30 percent CONTTA award letter.

“There was however, no new offer superseding the 30 percent CONTTA award, or a definite commitment on when the renegotiation exercise would be concluded,” the circular stated.

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The SSANU and NASU leaders, however, explained that the mandate of members that only the full approval of the unions’ demands contained in their letters referenced JAC/NS/VOL.III/63 and JAC/NS/VOL.III/65 dated March 27, and April 18, 2026 respectively would be acceptable, hence, the leadership after due consultation, resolved to stand by that mandate.

In view of the above, the university workers leadership direct all members to commence total and comprehensive strike action in all public universities and inter-university centres campuses from 12:00a.m. of May 1, 2026.

“All NASU and SSANU members are hereby enjoined to comply with this directive for the survival of our existence in the system.
Please be informed that National Monitoring Teams have been set up by the National JAC to monitor the effectiveness of the strike.

“Any branch of NASU and SSANU in the federal universities, inter-university centres as well as state universities found culpable of granting concessions or breaching the strike will be severely sanctioned,” the circular stated.