The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have announced plans to hold a one-day nationwide protest on Thursday, accusing the Federal Government of failing to address their long-standing demands.
Operating under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), both unions have instructed their branches across the country to hold emergency meetings on Wednesday to prepare for the protest. Activities will include campus marches, displaying placards, and holding press briefings to express their grievances.
The decision to protest came after JAC’s meeting on October 6, where members reviewed the government’s response to their previous ultimatums and found little progress.
Some of their unresolved issues include the alleged unfair sharing of the N50 billion earned allowances, delays in renegotiating the 2009 agreements with the unions, the non-payment of two months’ outstanding salaries, unpaid arrears from the 25% and 35% salary increases, and the failure to remit third-party deductions from May and June 2022.
The unions had earlier given the government a seven-day ultimatum on September 15, which was later extended by another 14 days—but the extension expired on October 6 without any resolution.
In a circular dated October 6, signed by NASU’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU’s National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions directed all members in federal and state universities to fully participate in the protest.
Part of the memo read: “The Joint Consultative Committee set up by the Minister of Education has met twice, but little progress has been made. Since our demands remain unresolved despite the extended ultimatum, all branches are to hold a joint congress on Wednesday, October 8, to mobilise for a massive one-day protest on Thursday, October 9.”
SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, accused the government of insincerity and warned that the unions might declare an indefinite strike if the situation does not change.
“Ours will not be the mother of all strikes—it will be the grandfather of all strikes,” he said. “When SSANU or NASU go on strike, the system feels it. We must take our destinies in our own hands.”
Read Also;
SSANU, NASU to begin protest October 9 over delay in renegotiation agreement
He described the welfare of non-academic university staff as dire, saying they remain “the worst hit financially, economically, and psychologically.”
Like ASUU, both SSANU and NASU have long been in dispute with the Federal Government over unpaid benefits, poor welfare, and inadequate funding of the university system.
