The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has directed its members across the country to embark on a total and indefinite strike starting from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026.
The directive was jointly signed by NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU National President and JAC Chairman, Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim, following the breakdown of last-minute talks with the Federal Government over the long-standing renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.
At the heart of the dispute, the unions pointed to what they described as an “unacceptable delay” by the government in concluding the renegotiation process. They also raised concerns over the handling of a proposed 30 percent increment under the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTTA), which has been a major point of contention.
A key meeting held on April 29 between JAC representatives and senior government officials—including the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa; Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad; Permanent Secretary Abel O. Enitan; and heads of regulatory bodies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)—ended without any concrete resolution.
Although the government urged the unions to suspend the planned strike and withdrew the widely criticised 30 percent CONTTA proposal, it failed to present a fresh offer or provide a clear timeline for concluding negotiations.
The unions maintained a firm stance, stating that their members had given a clear mandate that only the full implementation of their demands, as outlined in earlier communications dated March 27 and April 18, 2026, would be accepted.
“With no new offer on the table and no definite commitment from the government, we have no option but to act in line with the directive of our members,” the statement read.
The strike, described as “total and comprehensive,” is expected to affect all federal and state universities, as well as inter-university centres nationwide.
To ensure compliance, the unions disclosed that monitoring teams have been deployed across the country, warning that any branch found going against the directive would face strict sanctions.
“All NASU and SSANU members are hereby enjoined to comply fully with this directive for the survival of our existence in the system,” the statement concluded.
