The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued an indefinite strike notice to the Federal Government over the renegotiation of a 2009 agreement. The union is demanding that the government reconvene and conclude the renegotiation process in a fair, transparent, and time-bound manner.
The renegotiation process, which began in 2009, has been slow and inconclusive, according to SSANU. The union has expressed concern over the lack of clear timelines and firm commitments from the government. As a result, SSANU has issued a final ultimatum to the government, giving it until April 30, 2026, to conclude the renegotiation process and sign the agreement.
If the government fails to meet this deadline, SSANU will have no option but to commence an indefinite industrial action in liaison with its partner in the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU. The union is also calling for the immediate payment of outstanding salaries and the adoption of a unified salary payment platform.
SSANU has raised several other concerns, including the exclusion of some categories of workers from the N50 billion earned allowances approved in 2022, and the underfunding of universities, which has led to poor infrastructure and declining service delivery.
The union is also calling for improved surveillance and enhanced protection for staff and students, due to rising insecurity on campuses and across the country. Furthermore, SSANU has warned that weak digital infrastructure and inadequate research funding could undermine Nigeria's global academic competitiveness.
The Federal Government's delay in renegotiating the 2009 agreement with SSANU has put the country's universities on the brink of an indefinite strike. This is a clear indication that the government is not taking the concerns of non-teaching staff seriously. The union's demands for a fair, transparent, and time-bound renegotiation process are reasonable, and the government's failure to meet this deadline will have serious consequences for the education sector. The government must take immediate action to address the outstanding issues, including the payment of outstanding salaries and the adoption of a unified salary payment platform. The exclusion of some categories of workers from the N50 billion earned allowances is a clear case of discrimination, and the government must rectify this situation urgently. The underfunding of universities is a major concern, and the government must increase funding to improve infrastructure and service delivery. The strike notice is a wake-up call for the government to take the concerns of SSANU seriously and address them promptly. The consequences of a prolonged strike will be severe, not just for the universities but for the entire country.
