Varsity Workers Issue Federal Gov’t 30-day Ultimatum Over Stalled 2009 Agreement

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a one-month ultimatum to the federal government to conclude the long-delayed renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with non-teaching university unions, warning of an indefinite nationwide strike if its demands are unmet.

The directive was part of resolutions reached at the union’s 54th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Ekiti State University between March 26 and 27, 2026.

NEC expressed “grave concern” over the slow pace and inconclusive nature of negotiations, describing the continued delay as unacceptable.

SSANU, in a communique signed by its national president, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, said the government must reconvene discussions immediately and conclude the process in a transparent and time-bound manner.

The University workers warned that failure to meet the April 30 deadline would trigger a comprehensive industrial action in collaboration with the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) under the Joint Action Committee (JAC).

The union also condemned persistent salary delays, unpaid increments, and withheld entitlements affecting workers in federal and some state universities. It said these challenges have worsened hardship, lowered morale, and reduced productivity across the system.

NEC further criticised the uneven disbursement of the N50 billion earned allowances, particularly the exclusion of inter-university centres and research institutes, and called for equitable distribution. It further urged the government to address worsening economic hardship through wage reviews and social protection measures.

The council highlighted chronic underfunding, deteriorating infrastructure, and growing insecurity within university campuses, calling for urgent reforms, improved funding, and enhanced security architecture. It also warned against public-private partnership models that could lead to job losses or casualisation.

The communique reads in parts, “SSANU hereby issues a final ultimatum to the Federal Government from 1st April, 2026 to 30th April, 2026 to conclude the renegotiation process and sign the agreement.

Should the Government fail to do so within this period, the Union will have no other alternative but to liaise with its partner in the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU to commence an indefinite, comprehensive and total industrial action.

SSANU has demonstrated maturity, patience, and goodwill in the face of provocation and hardship. However, NEC makes it abundantly clear that if the Government fails to act within the stipulated timeframe, the Union will not hesitate to embark on decisive and lawful industrial action”.