The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have issued a 7-day ultimatum to the federal government, threatening to down tools in all public universities on September 22, 2025 if their demands are not addressed.
The strike notice is contained in a September 12 letter entitled ‘Re: Call for urgent intervention in outstanding labour matters affecting NASU and SSANU members in the universities and inter-university centres,’ and addressed to the minister of education.
Signed by Messrs Mohammed Ibrahim and Peters Adeyemi, presidents of SSANU and NASU respectively, the unions said the ultimatum followed the government’s failure to resolve long-standing grievances despite repeated reminders.
The unions noted that the letter written to the ministry of education prompted the minister to convene a meeting with the joint action committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU on July 4, 2025, aimed at addressing the issues raised.
The issues raised in the letter include non-payment of outstanding withheld salaries and 25/35% salary increments, skewed sharing of the N50 billion earned allowances and renegotiation of year 2009 FGN and NASU/SSANU agreements.
“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 unions said.
The letter reads: “Our letter led to the convening of a meeting by the minister of education with JAC of NASU and SSANU on July 4, 2025, with a view to addressing the issues raised in our letter.
“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 2009 FGN and NASU/SSANU Agreements.
“The minister would recall that at the July 4, 2025 meeting to address the afore-stated issues, there was a resolution to the effect that a tripartite committee comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission and JAC of NASU and SSANU would be constituted to resolve the impasse which had arisen due to the skewed distribution of the N50billion Earned Allowances in which our members in the Universities were shortchanged, while those in the Inter-University centres were completely shut out of the distribution.
“While there was no conclusion at the July 4, 2025 meeting on the issue of payment of two months’ outstanding withheld salaries owed our members, you pledged to set machinery in motion to expedite action on the issue of payment of arrears of 25/35% salary increments owed our members.
“Sequel to the July 4, 2025, meeting, there was a reminder letter dated August 18, 2025, owing to the silence or deliberate decision by your office not to address issues affecting non-teaching staff in our universities and inter-university centres.
“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, September 15, 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.”
