Strike Looms as Govt Meets SSANU, NASU Over Salary Dispute
Last update: April 28, 2026
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Tension rises as SSANU, NASU reject 30% pay rise, set for showdown with FG as strike looms.
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.
CBI News reports that the planned engagement comes amid rising tension over a proposed 30 per cent salary increment for non-academic staff in federal tertiary institutions.
The dispute followed 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 reportedly communicated to regulatory bodies, including the National Universities Commission.
However, the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU 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 that due process was not followed.
“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.
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 salary increase for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which has further heightened concerns among non-academic staff.
