Strike Ultimatum: University Staff Unions Extend Deadline to Federal Government

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) has announced an extension of its strike ultimatum to the Federal Government by an additional two weeks. This decision follows the unions’ dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s handling of lingering welfare concerns and its slow response to demands that have remained unresolved for months.

Earlier, the two unions had given a seven-day ultimatum, warning of a nationwide shutdown across universities and allied institutions if their grievances were not urgently addressed. At the core of their demands are issues of fair disbursement of earned allowances, unpaid entitlements, and other welfare-related matters, which they say have been neglected by the government despite repeated engagements.

In a letter signed by SSANU President, Muhammed Ibrahim, the unions expressed disappointment over what they termed “the unjust disbursement of earned allowances to staff of universities” while also citing non-payment of outstanding allowances as a major concern. Ibrahim recalled that in June 2025, the unions had formally written to the Federal Government, drawing attention to these challenges. That letter subsequently led to a meeting with the Minister of Education on July 4, 2025, but according to the unions, the discussions did not translate into tangible outcomes.

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Strike Ultimatum Extension by JAC of NASU and SSANU

The latest correspondence issued on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, to union chapters nationwide explained that the decision to extend the ultimatum arose from a follow-up meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, on September 19. The unions noted that while the government appeared willing to listen, the consultations had not yielded concrete resolutions.

“The leadership of JAC of NASU and SSANU, arising from a meeting held on Monday, 22nd September, 2025, decided to keep you updated on the current status of our agitations forwarded for resolution to the Federal Government,” the unions wrote.

According to the letter, the meeting was attended by senior officials, including the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), directors from the Ministries of Education and Labour, and other relevant stakeholders. Despite these high-level deliberations, JAC said the outcome was inconclusive, hence the need to extend the ultimatum.

The unions emphasized that their action was not intended to disrupt the academic system unnecessarily but to give the government more time to address their legitimate concerns. They explained that the two-week extension, effective immediately, was a “final window of opportunity” for the authorities to act responsibly.

Key Demands of the Unions

At the heart of SSANU and NASU’s agitation are several pressing issues:

1. Earned Allowances – The unions accuse the government of unfair allocation of allowances, which they claim have been skewed in favor of certain categories of university staff while non-teaching staff are sidelined.
2. Outstanding Payments – Non-payment of long-overdue allowances continues to strain staff welfare, leading to low morale across campuses.
3. Equity in Welfare Policies – JAC insists on fairness in the disbursement of resources and incentives to all categories of staff in Nigerian universities.
4. Respect for Labour Agreements – The unions maintain that previous agreements signed with the Federal Government have not been fully implemented, fueling the current round of agitation.

Muhammed Ibrahim and his colleagues argued that continued neglect of these demands could trigger a full-blown strike across the country’s universities and allied institutions, with devastating consequences for academic stability.

Looming Consequences for the Education Sector

The threat of industrial action comes at a time when the Nigerian education system is still grappling with the aftershocks of prolonged strikes by various unions in the sector. Analysts warn that another shutdown could deepen the crisis in tertiary education, derail academic calendars, and further frustrate students who have already endured disruptions in recent years.

Parents and students have expressed concern over the possibility of a strike, urging the government to respond decisively to avoid further setbacks. Stakeholders argue that repeated disruptions not only diminish the quality of education but also undermine Nigeria’s global competitiveness in higher education.

Government’s Next Move

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, has acknowledged the unions’ demands and pledged to continue consultations. However, the unions remain skeptical, pointing to what they describe as a “history of unfulfilled promises” by successive administrations.

By extending the ultimatum, JAC of NASU and SSANU has effectively placed the responsibility on the government to avert another nationwide shutdown. The ball is now in the government’s court, and the next two weeks will determine whether Nigeria’s universities remain open or face another period of paralysis.

In their latest statement, the unions were unequivocal: “If the government fails to do the needful within this extended period, the JAC will summarily proceed with a series of legitimate industrial actions upon expiration of the extension.”

The ongoing standoff between the Federal Government and the university non-academic staff unions highlights the persistent challenges facing Nigeria’s education sector. While dialogue remains open, the extension of the ultimatum underscores the urgency of the situation. For students, parents, and the broader academic community, the hope is that both sides will reach a sustainable resolution before the deadline expires.

As the clock ticks, all eyes are now on the Federal Government to act swiftly and decisively to prevent another disruption in Nigeria’s already fragile educational system.