SSANU, NASU give May 11 date to suspend strike

The leadership of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), has directed its branches to commence processes for the suspension of the strike effective Monday, May 11, 2026.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-academic staff in Nigeria’s public universities resolved to suspend their ongoing nationwide strike, following series of meetings between the unions and the federal government over unresolved demands, particularly the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and welfare-related concerns.

The federal government held a meeting with the leaders of SSANU and NASU on Monday, which ended in a deadlock, necessitating another meeting on Tuesday.

The JAC in a memo to all branch leaders on Wednesday, disclosed that they had secured a firm commitment from the federal government to conclude all outstanding renegotiations within two weeks of suspending the industrial action.

The circular, which was jointly signed by Mohammed Ibrahim, president of SSANU and Peters Adeyemi, NASU general secretary, noted that the development came after a crucial meeting with the federal government’s expanded renegotiation committee led by Yayale Ahmed, a former head of the civil service of the federation.

The JAC leadership highlighted that the federal government explained that any further review of its earlier offer would require the approval of President Bola Tinubu.

“The leadership of JAC considered the passionate appeal for the suspension of the ongoing strike action and also extracted a commitment from the FGN Expanded Renegotiation Committee that all renegotiations, including a reviewed offer of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS), shall be concluded in two weeks from the date of the suspension of the strike,” the statement read.

Besides, the branch leaders were directed to convene congresses to brief members and ratify the decision.

“Branch leaders are hereby urged to note this appeal and convene congresses to report the above, for a suspension of the strike effective from Monday, May 11, 2026, while other engagements with relevant stakeholders continue,” the unions said.

The unions also disclosed that part of the ongoing discussions included a controversial 30 percent salary increase under the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure which had earlier been proposed but later withdrawn by the government.

They expressed appreciation to members for their compliance with the strike directive, describing the solidarity shown nationwide as encouraging.

NASU and SSANU commenced the strike on May 1, 2026, over the Federal Government’s delay in concluding the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, which covers salaries, allowances, and general working conditions of non-academic staff in universities and inter-university centres.

BusinessDay had earlier reported that the non-academic staff’s strike grounded administrative operations in public universities, causing some institutions to postpone their examinations, and affecting activities such as medical services, and student registration, among others on the campuses.