By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has directed members to commence an indefinite strike on Friday, May 1, over the government’s failure to conclude the 2009 Renegotiation Agreement.
This came as the Federal Government withdrew its 30 per cent salary increase offer without providing a new one.
The decision to proceed with a strike followed an April 29 renegotiation meeting between the government team and the JAC, which ended without agreement.
Recall that JAC had issued an April 30 deadline for the government to finalise the renegotiation, failing which members would withdraw services from universities and inter-university centres.
But in a circular to all branch chairmen of NASU and SSANU, dated April 30 and signed by SSANU President and JAC Chairman, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, and NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, JAC declared that the strike is “total and comprehensive.”
The circular entitled “Commencement of Strike Action” stated that the discussion at the meeting with the government team centred on the slow pace of the Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreements for the Non-Teaching Staff Unions and the demand for its conclusion not later than April 30, 2026.
It also highlighted JAC’s rejection of the 30 per cent award letter in circulation.
The government team at the meeting were the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, the Permanent Secretaries, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Abel Enitan; the Executive Secretaries, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Abdullahi Ribadu and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Dr Angela Ajala, as well as other top officials of parastatals and agencies.
It read, “The National leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU & SSANU held a meeting yesterday (Wednesday) with the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa.
“The discussion at the meeting centred on the slow pace of the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreements for the Non-Teaching Staff Unions and our demand for its conclusion not later than April 30, 2026. It also highlighted our rejection of the 30% CONTTA award letter in circulation.
“It is necessary to inform members that, while the government team passionately appealed to the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU to rescind the strike notice, they have also withdrawn the 30% CONTTA award letter. There was, however, no new offer superseding the 30% CONTTA award, nor was there a definite commitment on when the renegotiation exercise would be concluded.
“However, given the mandate of members that only the full approval of our demands as contained in our letters referenced JAC/NS/VOL.III/63 and JAC/NS/VOL.III/65 dated March 27 and April 18, 2026, respectively, would be acceptable; the leadership, after due consultation, resolved to stand by that mandate.
“In view of this, we hereby direct our members to commence total and comprehensive strike action in all our universities and inter-university centres campuses from 12:00 am on May 1, 2026.
“AII NASU and SSANU members are hereby enjoined to comply with this directive for the survival of our existence in the system.”
To ensure total compliance, the circular added: “Please be informed that the National JAC has set up National Monitoring Teams to monitor the effectiveness of the strike. Any branch of NASU and SSANU in the Federal Universities, Inter-University Centres, and State Universities found culpable of granting concessions or breaching the strike will be severely sanctioned. We solicit your total and unequivocal support in this struggle.”
In a letter to the Minister of Education regarding the withdrawal of the rejected 30 per cent consolidated non-teaching tools allowance, JAC informed the minister that it consulted with its members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres on the contents of the letter and also briefed them on the meeting held on April 29, 2026.
The letter read, “We write to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence in respect of the above subject reference FME/PS/569/C.1/11/201 dated April 29, 2026 and to equally appreciate the Honourable Minister of Education for withdrawing the contentious letter.
“The leadership of the JAC of NASU and SSANU, consulted with our members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres on the contents of the letter and also briefed them on the meeting held yesterday, April 29, 2026 at the Honourable Minister’s instance with the Honourable Minister of State, Education; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education; Executive Secretary, NUC; Executive Secretary, NCCE and other government functionaries in attendance.
“The consensus outcome of the consultation is that our demand vis-à-vis the slow pace of the renegotiation process and the request that the renegotiation be concluded and signed by April 30, 2026, has not been met.
“In the same vein, while the letter on the withdrawal of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA) is acknowledged, no new offer has been made to supersede the 30% allowances contained in the withdrawn letter.
“In view of this, we have the mandate of our members to inform the Government that with the agreement not concluded as at April 30 2026, and with no new offer to supersede the withdrawn 30% CONTTA, the strike action shall commence by 12 am of May 1, 2026.
“We hereby inform the Federal Government through your esteemed office that, as a result of the failure of the Government to apprehend the strike by positively acceding to our demands, all members of NASU & SSANU in the Universities and Inter-University Centres in Nigeria will commence total and comprehensive strike action by Friday, 1st of May, 2026.”
