Varsity Workers Begin Nationwide Strike Today Over Unresolved Welfare, Agreement Disputes

Non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities and inter-university centres have commenced a nationwide strike following the failure of negotiations with the federal government over long-standing welfare concerns and the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.

The directive, issued yesterday by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), mandated members to withdraw their services, effective from midnight on 1 May 2026.

The decision followed a meeting in Abuja between union leaders and top government officials, including the minister of education, Tunji Alausa, that failed to resolve the disputes.

Although discussions at the meeting focused primarily on the protracted renegotiation of the 2009 agreement governing conditions of service for non-teaching staff in tertiary institutions, as well as the unions’ rejection of a 30 per cent Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) Technical Adjustment (CONTTA) award recently proposed by the government, no agreement was reached.

Despite appeals by the government delegation for the unions to suspend the planned industrial action, JAC, in a circular to members signed by Peters Adeyemi, general-secretary, NASU and SSANU president, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, maintained that there was no substantive offer to replace the withdrawn 30 per cent CONTTA proposal, nor a clear timeline for concluding negotiations.

Consequently, the unions resolved to proceed with the strike in line with the mandate earlier issued by their members.

LEADERSHIP reported that NASU and SSANU had issued a strike ultimatum in March and reiterated their demands in April, citing the government’s failure to address critical issues, including fair wage adjustments, improved working conditions, and the delayed review of the 2009 agreement.

The unions argued that the continued delay undermined the welfare and professional stability of non-academic staff, who play a crucial role in the administration and functioning of tertiary institutions.

The circular says, “It is necessary to let members know that, while the government team strongly appeals to the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU to rescind the strike notice, they have also withdrawn the 30 per cent CONTTA award letter. There was, however, no new offer superseding the 30 per cent CONTTA award, nor was there a definite commitment on when the renegotiation exercise would be concluded.

However, given the mandate of members that only the full approval of our demands as contained in our letters referenced JAC/NS/VOL.III/63 and JAC/NS/VOL.III/65 dated 27 March and 18 April 2026, respectively, would be acceptable, the leadership, after due consultation, resolved to stand by that mandate”.

“In view of this, we hereby direct our members to commence total and comprehensive strike action in all our universities and inter-university centres campuses from 12:00 a.m. on 1 May 2026.

AII NASU and SSANU members are now enjoined to comply with this directive for the survival of our existence in the system.

Please be informed that the national JAC has set up national monitoring teams to assess 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”.