Members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have commenced a total and indefinite nationwide strike effective Friday, May 1, 2026.
The industrial action, declared under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of both unions, follows the Federal Government’s failure to conclude renegotiations of the 2009 agreement and present a new offer on allowances.
In a directive jointly signed by NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions said the decision was taken after last-minute negotiations with government officials broke down.
At the centre of the dispute is what the unions described as an “unacceptable delay” in concluding the renegotiation process, along with dissatisfaction over the handling of a proposed 30 percent increase in the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTTA).
A crucial meeting held on April 29 between union leaders and top government representatives—including the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and heads of key regulatory agencies—ended without any concrete resolution.
Although the government withdrew the controversial 30 percent CONTTA proposal and urged the unions to suspend the strike notice, it failed to provide an alternative offer or a clear timeline for concluding negotiations.
The unions said they had a firm mandate from their members to proceed with the strike unless their demands, as outlined in earlier communications dated March 27 and April 18, 2026, are fully addressed.
“With no new offer on the table and no definite commitment from the government, we have no option but to act,” the statement said.
Describing the action as “total and comprehensive,” the unions noted that it affects all federal and state universities, as well as inter-university centres across the country.
They also disclosed that monitoring teams have been deployed nationwide to ensure compliance, warning that any branch found undermining the strike would face sanctions.
The strike places renewed strain on Nigeria’s tertiary education system, which continues to grapple with recurring labour disputes and funding challenges.
