NASU, SSANU announce indefinite nationwide strike May 1

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has revealed its plans to launch an indefinite nationwide strike effective May 1.

The move was communicated through a letter signed on April 30 and addressed to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.

The letter was jointly signed by NASU’s General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU’s President, Mohammed Ibrahim.

As revealed in the communiqué, the industrial action would begin from midnight due to the failure of the federal government to conclude current negotiations and make a fresh offer on allowances for workers.

The unions observed that their engagement with government officials did not yield positive results; hence there is no choice for them other than to launch the nationwide strike.

Notably, the JAC recognized the withdrawal of a circular concerning a 30 percent rise in the consolidated non-teaching tools allowance but stressed that it does not solve the essence of the dispute.

“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tools allowance is acknowledged, no new offer has been made to supersede the 30 percent allowances contained in the withdrawn letter,” the letter says.

According to the unions, the rate of negotiations was too slow and could not satisfy their demands.

“Our conclusion from the consultation exercise is that our demand in relation to the slow pace of the negotiation process has not been met,” they stated.

It was further reported by the unions that their members had previously empowered their leaders to take action if they did not come to an end by April 30.

“Without the conclusion of any agreement by April 30, 2026, and without a new offer, we hereby announce the commencement of the strike starting from midnight May 1, 2026,” they announced.

This strike action has now become inevitable since, according to them, the government has not managed to prevent it through negotiations.

“This is due to the failure of the government to avert the strike through acceding to our demands; hence, all members shall be undertaking total and comprehensive strike action from Friday, May 1, 2026,” the unions noted.