NASU, SSANU Begin Nationwide Strike May 1 Over Unresolved Allowance Negotiations
The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has confirmed the rollout of a nationwide strike beginning Friday.
In a letter dated April 30, 2026, and addressed to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the unions cited the Federal Government’s inability to conclude ongoing renegotiations and table a fresh offer on allowances as the trigger for the industrial action. The development was reported as tensions escalated over unresolved welfare issues affecting non-academic staff.
The correspondence, signed by NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim, made it clear that the strike would take effect from midnight on May 1, 2026.
“We write to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence and to equally appreciate the Honourable Minister of Education for withdrawing the contentious letter,” the union leaders said, referring to an earlier circular on a 30 per cent increase in the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance.
“Despite this, the withdrawal did not resolve the core issues in dispute.
“The consensus outcome of the consultation is that our demand vis-à-vis the slow pace of the renegotiation process has not been met,” they said.
The unions further stressed that no replacement proposal had been introduced following the withdrawal of the initial allowance framework, a point they told PulseNets remains central to the deadlock.
“While the letter on the withdrawal of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance is acknowledged, no new offer has been made to supersede the 30 per cent allowances contained in the withdrawn letter,” they stated.
PulseNets learned that the Joint Action Committee had earlier secured a mandate from its members to initiate a strike if the government failed to wrap up negotiations by the April 30 deadline.
“In view of this, with the agreement not concluded as at 30th April 2026, and with no new offer, the strike action shall commence by 12am on May 1, 2026,” the letter read.
The unions maintained that the decision to embark on industrial action became unavoidable, citing what they described as the government’s failure to sustain constructive engagement and prevent a collapse in talks.
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“We hereby inform the Federal Government… that as a result of the failure of Government to avert the strike by positively acceding to our demands, all members… will commence total and comprehensive strike action by Friday, May 1, 2026,” Adeyemi and Ibrahim added.
The nationwide strike is expected to shut down administrative and support operations across federal tertiary institutions, raising fresh concerns about disruptions within Nigeria’s university system amid a persistent cycle of industrial disputes.
