The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has warned that it will embark on a total and indefinite strike across tertiary institutions if the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government is not concluded by April 30, 2026.
The union also dismissed reports claiming that a 30 percent allowance increase had been approved as a final agreement, describing such claims as misleading, premature, and a breach of established collective bargaining procedures.
This position was outlined in a communiqué issued after SSANU’s Special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on April 18, 2026, in Abuja. The communiqué, signed by the union’s National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, emphasized that negotiations with the Federal Government are still ongoing, contrary to reports suggesting a concluded deal.
According to SSANU, it has engaged in at least seven meetings with the government’s negotiating team since October 2024, addressing both financial and non-financial issues affecting members’ welfare.
The union expressed concern over attempts to present the process as finalized, particularly through the circulation of a letter claiming approval of a 30 percent allowance increase despite the absence of a signed agreement. It described the development as shocking and a violation of due negotiation processes, stressing that no agreement is valid until both parties formally conclude and endorse it.
Speaking further, SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim reiterated that discussions are still in progress and must follow due legal procedures. He noted that both monetary and non-monetary aspects under negotiation directly impact the welfare of members and cannot be unilaterally decided.
He maintained that the union remains committed to the rule of law and proper collective bargaining, warning that any attempt to impose decisions outside the agreed framework would be resisted.
SSANU, alongside the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), had earlier issued a 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the conclusion of the renegotiation by the end of April.
Reaffirming this deadline, Ibrahim stated that the union would proceed with a nationwide shutdown of services across public universities and inter-university centres—both federal and state-owned—if their demands are not met.
He also revealed plans to extend mobilization efforts to polytechnics and colleges of education, citing concerns over what the union described as attempts to divide workers within the education sector.
SSANU further highlighted the critical role of non-teaching staff in tertiary institutions, rejecting what it sees as ongoing marginalization. The union emphasized that its members are responsible for key functions such as admissions processing, result management, NYSC mobilization, healthcare services, security, administration, and institutional support systems.
The union insisted that its members are united and prepared to take decisive action if necessary, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to listen to the concerns of university workers.
SSANU concluded by reiterating its demand for fairness, adherence to due process, and respect for collective bargaining, warning that it would not accept any outcome that falls short of what has been negotiated.
