- The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has threatened an indefinite nationwide strike starting May 1, 2026, if the Federal Government fails to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.
- The union dismissed reports of an approved 30% allowance increase as “misleading,” asserting that negotiations are still ongoing and no binding agreement has been signed.
- If the deadline is not met, SSANU, in conjunction with NASU, plans to withdraw all administrative and support services, including admissions, healthcare, and security across federal and state-owned universities.
The Nigerian university system faces a potential total shutdown following a fresh ultimatum issued by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
Eko Hot Blog reports that in a communiqué released on Monday, April 20, 2026, the union gave the Federal Government until April 30 to finalize all negotiations or face an indefinite nationwide industrial action.
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Addressing journalists after a Special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim condemned rumors of a finalized 30% allowance deal.
He described the reports as a breach of due process intended to undermine the collective bargaining framework.
Since October 2024, the union has held seven meetings with the government’s negotiating team, yet Ibrahim insists they are “far from a conclusion.”
The union is demanding a comprehensive resolution that covers both financial and non-financial welfare issues rooted in the long-standing 2009 agreement.
“No agreement is valid until it is formally endorsed by both parties,” Ibrahim stated. “The attempt to impose terms outside the established framework will be resisted. We are not just negotiating numbers; we are negotiating the survival of our members.”
The strike threat extends beyond universities to inter-university centers, with mobilization efforts reportedly reaching polytechnics and colleges of education.
The union has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene personally and end what they describe as the “persistent marginalization” of non-academic staff.
