Adebayo Adenrele
The National Executive Council (NEC) of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, warning that it will embark on an indefinite nationwide strike if longstanding labour disputes are not resolved by the end of April.
The possible industrial action was announced in a Communiqué issued at the end of the union’s 54th National Executive Council meeting held at Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (EKSU) between March 24 and March 27, 2026 and signed by its national president, Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim.
According to the communiqué, the ultimatum will take effect from April 1 to April 30, within which the government is expected to conclude renegotiations of the 2009 agreement with non-teaching staff unions.
SSANU warned that failure to meet the deadline would leave it with bo alternative but to partner with the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions under the Joint Action Committee to commence a total and indefinite industrial action.
The union stressed that the decision was final and irreversible, signaling a potential shutdown of administrative operations across Nigerian universities if the dispute remains unresolved.
SANU also expressed deep concern over delays in salary payments affecting workers in federal and some state universities, as well as the non-payment of approved increments and other entitlements.
The union said the situation has imposed severe hardship on members, weakened morale and disrupted productivity within the university system.
It called for the immediate settlement of all outstanding salary-related issues and urged the government to establish a more reliable and unified payment structure for university workers.
The communiqué read in part, “The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) held its 54th NEC meeting at Ekiti State University from March 24th to March 27th, 2026. The Council extensively deliberated on the state of the nation, the condition of Nigerian universities, and issues affecting the welfare of union members across its branches. Consequently, the Council resolved as follows:
“NEC expresses grave concern over the slow pace and inconclusive nature of the ongoing renegotiation exercise between the Federal Government and the non-teaching unions in the university system. Council observes that prolonged engagements without clear commitments, defined timelines, or tangible outcomes are unacceptable. NEC, therefore, insists that the government must, without further delay, reconvene and conclude the renegotiation process in a fair, transparent, and time-bound manner.
“In view of the above, SSANU hereby issues a final ultimatum to the Federal Government of Nigeria, effective from April 1st, 2026, to April 30th, 2026, to conclude the renegotiation process and sign the agreement.
“Should the government fail to do so within this specified period, the Union will have no alternative but to liaise with its partner in the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU to commence an indefinite, comprehensive, and total industrial action. NEC makes it unequivocally clear that there will be no going back on this decision by JAC.
“NEC condemns the persistent delays in the payment of staff salaries in federal and some state universities, as well as the non-payment of approved increments and other withheld entitlements. These recurring delays have imposed severe hardship on members and their families, weakened morale, and undermined productivity.
“The immediate settlement of all outstanding salary-related issues; The establishment of a reliable and unified salary payment structure and allowances”.
