SSANIP Threatens Strike Over Unpaid CONTTA, Unimplemented 2026 Agreement

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has threatened to embark on strike if their demands are not met. The association issued the threat on Wednesday, following a meeting of its General Executive Council (GEC) in Abuja over the continued non-payment of CONTTA and the non-implementation of the 2026 FG–SSANIP renegotiated agreement.

The union, in a press release signed by its National Secretary, Comrade Nura Shehu Gaya, FCAI, said it has formally resumed its earlier ultimatum to the Federal and State Governments with effect from Wednesday, 11 November 2026.

According to the release, if the outstanding demands are not addressed, SSANIP shall embark on a three-day nationwide warning strike from Monday, 16 to Wednesday, 18 November 2026.

The GEC expressed serious concern over the delay in implementing CONTTA and in paying arrears to members, despite repeated assurances by the Minister of Education that the funds had already been released and were domiciled in the accounts of the various institutions.

The Minister reiterated the assurance during the unveiling of the agreement on 13 October 2026 and the inauguration of the Implementation and Monitoring Committee on 14 October 2026.

“However, several weeks after these assurances, our members remain unpaid,” the union said.

SSANIP is also concerned about the failure to implement other critical provisions of the agreement, particularly the movement of non-teaching staff to CONTEDISS 15.

The union noted that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has yet to provide clear, adequate implementation directives to Polytechnic Managements to facilitate the provision.

It therefore called on NBTE to emulate the National Universities Commission (NUC) by urgently communicating the contents of the agreement to the managements of Polytechnics to ensure timely and uniform implementation.

The GEC further resolved that the period from 19 to 24 November 2026 shall serve as the final window for government to ensure payment of CONTTA and address other outstanding provisions of the agreement.
Failure to do so, it warned, will result in an indefinite nationwide strike.

The union also announced a nationwide mass protest scheduled for Wednesday, 25 November 2026, with key points at the NBTE Abuja Liaison Office, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the National Assembly.

All Zonal Coordinators, Chapter Chairmen and Branch Executives have been directed to commence immediate mobilisation of members.

SSANIP reiterated that the payment of CONTTA and implementation of the other provisions of the 2026 agreement are legitimate entitlements arising from a duly negotiated and signed agreement, not favours to be granted at the discretion of certain government officials.

It described as disturbing the repeated assurances by the Minister of Education that funds were already in institutional accounts, while eligible beneficiaries remain unpaid.

The union said it remains committed to constructive engagement and industrial harmony, but stressed that continued assurances without concrete action are no longer acceptable.

“The time for assurances is over; the time for payment and implementation is now!” it declared.