University Staff Vow Prolonged Strike as Government Remains Unresponsive

The Joint Action Committee, comprising the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has indicated that its ongoing strike, joined by university administrators including vice-chancellors, bursars, and registrars, is set to be a sustained action. On Monday, the JAC began an indefinite strike in response to four months of withheld salaries, effectively halting operations in universities nationwide.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday, SSANU’s National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, stated that key university executives have also been affected by the salary delays. He warned that institutions would remain closed until the issue is resolved. According to Ibrahim, there is widespread adherence to the strike across Nigeria’s universities, with a compliance rate of 98%. The union leaders noted that they had received no engagement from government representatives.

Both Ibrahim and SSANU Vice President Abdussobur Salaam confirmed that neither the Ministry of Education nor other government bodies had responded. Last week, Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman was removed from office, with Dr. Tunji Alausa appointed to assume the role as of October 30, per President Bola Tinubu’s directive. Despite some informal contacts, Salaam mentioned that no official government outreach had been made, describing recent calls as informal requests rather than substantial action.

SSANU and NASU have jointly demanded the immediate payment of the outstanding salaries, improved compensation, and implementation of agreements dating back to 2009. The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has similarly announced plans for a nationwide protest beginning on November 6, with picketing of the Ministry of Finance scheduled for November 14 if no progress is made.

At a recent meeting in Abuja, NAAT President Ibeji Nwokoma stated the union’s frustration with the government’s delay in implementing the President’s directive for withheld salaries to be released. NAAT has issued a two-week deadline, beginning October 30, to address grievances, including the unpaid five-and-a-half-month salaries, allowances for technologists, and commitments to improve student training programs.

The union has warned that if demands remain unmet by November 13, it will transition to an indefinite strike. Nwokoma pointed to previous attempts to resolve these issues through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) dating back to 2017, which have yielded no significant progress.

NAAT’s executive council has instructed all branches within universities, polytechnics, and colleges to participate in protests and hold congresses to vote on escalating the strike. The union hopes the government will take this opportunity to avoid further disruptions to the academic calendar, which could impact vital research and teaching activities in tertiary institutions nationwide.