The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has handed the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to resolve outstanding labour disputes or face industrial action.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, and made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, the unions listed grievances ranging from ₦50 billion in earned allowances, withheld salaries, unpaid arrears of a 25/35 per cent salary increment, to the unfulfilled renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreement. They alleged that their members in universities were shortchanged, while staff members in inter-university centres were completely excluded from the ₦50 billion allowances disbursement.
On salaries, the unions demanded the immediate payment of withheld arrears and the 25-35 percent increment, stressing: “Despite assurances, nothing concrete has been done to pay our members.” They further accused the government of sidelining non-teaching unions in the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, describing the delay as unfair and unacceptable.
Concluding the letter, the Joint Action Committee warned: “In light of persistent neglect, we serve a seven-day notice effective September 15, 2025. Failure to act will trigger industrial actions, including strikes.”
With the countdown now running, Nigeria’s universities could see serious disruption if the Federal Government does not act promptly to meet the unions’ demands.