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 declared an indefinite nationwide strike across universities and inter-university centres beginning from midnight on May 1, 2026.
The directive, contained in a circular dated April 30, 2026, jointly signed by the General Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and the President of SSANU, Mohammed H. Ibrahim, follows failure of negotiations between the unions and the Federal Government over the lingering renegotiation of the 2009 agreement for non-teaching staff in tertiary institutions, as well as disputes surrounding the controversial 30 percent Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure Adjustment (CONTTA).
Addressed to branch chairmen of both unions in universities and inter-university centres nationwide, the circular directed members to commence what it described as a “total and comprehensive strike action.”
According to the unions, the decision was reached after an emergency meeting between the national leadership of JAC and top officials of the Federal Government led by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa.
Other government officials present at the meeting included the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad; the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Abel O. Enitan; the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Y. Ribadu; and the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Dr Mrs Angela Ajala, alongside senior officials from other agencies and parastatals.
The unions stated that discussions at the meeting centred on the slow pace of renegotiation of the 2009 agreements affecting non-teaching staff unions and their demand that the process be concluded not later than April 30, 2026.
JAC also reiterated its rejection of the 30 per cent CONTTA award earlier proposed by the Federal Government, insisting that the offer was inadequate and failed to address the unions’ core demands.
According to the circular, while the Federal Government pleaded with the unions to suspend the planned strike, it failed to provide any fresh offer to replace the withdrawn CONTTA award letter or give a definite timeline for the completion of the renegotiation exercise.
“It is necessary to inform members that while the government team passionately appealed to the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU to rescind the strike notice, they have also withdrawn the 30% CONTTA award letter. There was however no new offer superseding the 30% CONTTA award, or a definite commitment on when the renegotiation exercise would be concluded”, the statement read.
The unions maintained that their leadership was acting based on the mandate earlier given by members, which stipulated that only the full approval and implementation of demands contained in previous communications to government would be acceptable.
“Given the mandate of members that only the full approval of our demands as contained in our letters referenced JAC/NS/VOL.III/63 and JAC/NS/VOL.III/65 dated 27th March and 18th April, 2026 respectively would be acceptable, the leadership after due consultation, resolved to stand by that mandate”, the circular added.
Consequently, NASU and SSANU directed all members in federal and state universities, inter-university centres and related institutions to fully comply with the industrial action.
“In view of this, we hereby direct our members to commence total and comprehensive strike action in all our universities and inter-university centres campuses from 12:00 a.m. of 1st May, 2026”, the unions declared.
The unions also announced the establishment of national monitoring teams to oversee compliance with the strike across campuses nationwide. They warned that any branch found undermining the industrial action by granting concessions or violating the directive would face severe sanctions.
“All NASU and SSANU members are hereby enjoined to comply with this directive for the survival of our existence in the system”, the statement directed.
