The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have declared a one-day nationwide protest for Thursday, October 9, over the Federal Government’s failure to address their long-standing demands.
Operating under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), both unions have directed all branches across federal and state universities to convene emergency congresses on Wednesday, October 8, to mobilise members for the protest, which will feature campus marches, placard displays, and press briefings.
The decision followed a comprehensive review of the government’s actions during JAC’s meeting on October 6, after multiple ultimatums had expired without any resolution.
Key issues fueling the protest include the alleged inequitable disbursement of the N50 billion earned allowances, delays in the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreements, non-payment of two months’ outstanding salaries, arrears of the 25 and 35 per cent salary increments, and non-remittance of third-party deductions for May and June 2022.
JAC had previously issued a seven-day ultimatum on September 15, which was later extended by another 14 days — both of which expired without government intervention.
In a circular dated October 6 and titled “Commencement of Protest Actions”, signed by NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions ordered full participation of all members nationwide.
The memo stated, “Following the inauguration of the Joint Consultative Committee by the Honourable Minister of Education to look into the demands of JAC of NASU & SSANU, the committee met twice — on Friday, 19th September 2025, and Monday, 6th October 2025 — with little progress, as our demands remain unresolved despite the extension of the ultimatum.
“In light of this development, the National JAC hereby directs branch leadership in universities and inter-university centres nationwide to convene a joint congress on Wednesday, 8th October 2025, to mobilise for a massive and effective one-day protest on Thursday, 9th October 2025.”
The unions emphasized that all members in both federal and state-owned universities must strictly comply with the directive, stressing that solidarity and unity are key to the success of the protest.
SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, recently accused the government of insincerity and warned that if their grievances remain unresolved, the unions might embark on an indefinite strike.
“Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes’; it will be the grandfather of all strikes,” Ibrahim warned. “When SSANU or NASU strikes, you know what it means. We must take our destinies in our hands.”
He described the welfare of non-academic university staff as deplorable, stating that they remain “the worst hit financially, economically, and psychologically.”
Like the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), both SSANU and NASU have been locked in prolonged disputes with the Federal Government over welfare and funding issues in the tertiary education sector.
