SSANU, NASU Hand Federal Government Seven-Day Ultimatum Over Unpaid Allowances

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over unresolved issues affecting non-teaching staff in universities.

In a letter dated Monday, the two unions condemned the “unjust” disbursement of earned allowances, the non-payment of withheld salaries, and the delay in implementing salary increments.

Signed by SSANU President Muhammed Ibrahim, the letter reminded the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, of their earlier correspondence dated June 18, 2025, which prompted a meeting with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU on July 4, 2025.

The unions stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, the issues raised in the letter centred on: Unjust Disbursement of N50Billion Earned Allowances; Non-Payment of Outstanding Withheld Salaries and 25/35% Salary Increments; and Renegotiation of Year 2009 FGN and NASU/SSANU Agreements.”

They recalled that the July 4 meeting led to the resolution to establish a Tripartite Committee—comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission, and JAC of NASU and SSANU—to address grievances, particularly the “skewed distribution” of the ₦50 billion earned allowances. The unions said their members in universities were shortchanged, while those in inter-university centres were completely excluded.

The letter also faulted the government’s silence on outstanding withheld salaries and arrears of 25/35% salary increments, despite assurances from the minister. It further expressed frustration over the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreements, noting that while the Federal Government’s team had concluded talks with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), it had failed to engage with the non-teaching staff unions.

“In light of the persistent unresolved issues, and the apparent lack of responsiveness from the Government to our legitimate concerns, we are compelled to serve a formal notice of seven (7) days effective from Monday, 15th September, 2025 to address our agitations, failing which members of NASU and SSANU would embark on a series of legitimate industrial actions including strikes to press home our demands,” the letter warned.

Last week, Ibrahim accused the government of insincerity, cautioning that the looming strike would be “total, indefinite and absolute.”

“Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes,’ it will be the grandfather of all strikes, because when SSANU or NASU strikes, you know what it means. We must take our destinies in our hands,” he declared.

He lamented that university non-academic workers remain the “worst hit financially, economically and psychologically,” stressing that their patience was wearing thin.

Like their academic counterparts in ASUU, SSANU and NASU have long been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over welfare-related disputes.