FG Moves To Avert SSANU, NASU Strike, Summons Unions

The Federal Government has invited the leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and Allied Institutions to a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in a bid to avert a looming nationwide strike.

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The planned meeting comes amid rising tension over a proposed 30 per cent salary increment for non-academic staff in federal tertiary institutions.

Sources familiar with the development confirmed to Punch that formal invitations had been sent to the unions.

A source said, “The government has written to the leadership of the unions and invited us to a meeting on Wednesday.

“We will be there to hear what they have to say, but the truth is that our ultimatum still stands.”

The dispute stems from a directive by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announcing a 30 per cent salary increase for non-academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

The announcement was communicated to regulatory bodies, including the National Universities Commission and others.

The Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU has, however, rejected the proposed increment, describing it as “shocking and unacceptable.”

In a letter signed by JAC Secretary-General Peters A. Adeyemi and President Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions insisted the move did not follow due process.

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

The unions called on the minister to withdraw the circulating document, warning that failure to do so could trigger a shutdown of public universities.

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

They added that they would not accept any salary adjustment outside ongoing negotiations.

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

Negotiations Still Ongoing

Talks between the government and university unions are currently being handled by a committee chaired by Yayale Ahmed.

However, the unions maintained that discussions were still in progress with no agreement reached.

The development follows a recent 40 per cent salary increase for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has further heightened concerns among non-academic staff.