NASU, SSANU threaten strike over unpaid allowances

The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have issued a one-week ultimatum to the federal government to resolve unpaid allowances before striking. The warning, announced yesterday September 15, 2025, comes due to longstanding disputes over salary arrears and renegotiation delays.

The combined front of NASU and SSANU expressed frustration over the government’s failure to address unpaid and wrongly distributed earned allowances owed to university staff. In an official letter signed by SSANU’s President Muhammed Ibrahim, the unions criticized the uneven disbursal of approximately N50 billion, pointing out that while some university employees received partial payments, many others, especially those at Inter-University Centres, were excluded entirely.

Earlier efforts to resolve these concerns were documented in a correspondence dated June 18, 2025, followed by a government meeting in early July. At that meeting, it was agreed that a tripartite committee involving the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission, and the Joint Action Committee would oversee the fair reapportionment of funds and address the backlog of salary increments of 25 to 35 percent.

Despite these agreements, progress stalled. Ibrahim explained that the financial arrears on outstanding monthly salaries remain unsettled, even after clear commitments. An August 18 reminder failed to spur any government movement, intensifying tensions.

Moreover, the unions criticized the stalling of talks to revisit the 2009 agreements governing conditions for non-teaching staff. While the Academic Staff Union negotiated and neared finalizing a new contract, SSANU and NASU reported being sidelined, despite submitting comprehensive proposals and fulfilling all procedural requirements.

The joint letter urged immediate government responsiveness, cautioning that if their concerns are ignored beyond the seven-day deadline, coordinated industrial actions, including strikes, would commence to press the demands firmly.