Pay row: SSANU, NASU write minister over 30% salary hike

The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union has demanded the immediate withdrawal of a controversial letter allegedly approving a 30 per cent salary increase for non-teaching staff or risk a nationwide shutdown of public universities.

In a strongly worded letter signed by Prince Peters A. Adeyemi, the Secretary General of the JAC and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, President, on behalf of the unions, the workers described the development as shocking and unacceptable.

The letter was addressed to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa,

“We write with utmost respect to draw your urgent attention to the letter being circulated on social media, purportedly signed by you.

“The JAC of NASU and SSANU expresses shock at this unhealthy development and unequivocally rejects the arbitrary award,” the letter read.

The unions stressed that the purported increment did not emanate from ongoing negotiations and warned that any attempt to enforce it would violate established labour processes.

“We have not reached any conclusion warranting the award, which is alien to the tradition of collective bargaining,” the letter stated.

They further insisted that they would not accept any unilateral decision outside the negotiation table.

“We are not part of it, and the two unions are not ready to take anything less than what may be agreed upon collectively with the negotiation committee,” it added.

Negotiations between the Federal Government and university-based unions are currently being handled by a committee chaired by Dr Yayale Ahmed, but the unions insisted “discussions are still ongoing with no agreement reached.”

The JAC also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circulating document to prevent further confusion within the university system.

“We hereby call on the honourable minister to withdraw the letter in circulation,” the unions declared.

Reaffirming their earlier position, the unions reminded the government of a March 27 ultimatum, giving authorities until April 30, 2026, to conclude negotiations on the long-standing 2009 agreement.

“We hereby reaffirm our demand and urge that the agreements be signed by the end of this month.”

They warned that failure to meet the deadline would come with serious consequences.

“Any delay beyond this may disrupt industrial peace in our universities and inter-university centres from 1st May, 2026,” the statement read.

The dispute is the latest in a series of confrontations between university unions and the Federal Government over welfare and agreements dating back to 2009.

While academic unions often dominate public attention, SSANU and NASU have consistently raised concerns about marginalisation, particularly in salary reviews and earned allowances.

Labour experts note that unilateral announcements—real or perceived—often inflame tensions because they undermine trust in the negotiation process.

With Nigeria’s universities already battling funding shortages, brain drain, and frequent disruptions, another strike could worsen instability in the sector and prolong academic uncertainty for millions of students.

Recall that the Federal Government approved a 30 per cent increase in the consolidated salary structure of non-academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, in a move aimed at easing long-standing labour tensions and boosting morale across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

In a letter dated March 30, 2026, and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr Alausa, the government said the increment would be implemented as a Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance.

“I write to convey the approval of His Excellency… for a thirty per cent (30%) increase in the consolidated salary structures of non-academic staff of federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education,” the minister stated.

The directive was addressed to the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, the National Universities Commission and the  National Board for Technical Education.

Alausa said the decision reflected the government’s commitment to improving the welfare and productivity of non-academic staff, who play critical administrative and technical roles in higher institutions.