SSANU, NASU Set to Stage Protest on Thursday

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have announced plans to stage a one-day protest on Thursday in response to the Federal Government’s continued delay in addressing their demands.

Operating under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), the unions have instructed all branches to hold emergency joint meetings on Wednesday to mobilise members for the demonstration, which will feature campus marches, placard displays, and press briefings.

The decision followed a review of government actions during JAC’s meeting on October 6, after multiple expired ultimatums produced no tangible results. Among the unresolved issues are alleged unfair distribution of the N50 billion earned allowances, delays in renegotiating the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreements, unpaid two-month salary arrears, outstanding 25 and 35 percent wage increments, and non-remittance of third-party deductions for May and June 2022.

JAC had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government on September 15, later extending it by another 14 days, which lapsed on October 6.

In a circular dated October 6 and titled “Commencement of Protest Actions,” signed by NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi and SSANU National President Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions ordered full participation from all members.

The memo stated that despite two meetings of the Joint Consultative Committee inaugurated by the Minister of Education — held on September 19 and October 6, 2025 — there was minimal progress, as the unions’ key demands remained unresolved. Consequently, the National JAC directed all branch leaders in universities and inter-university centres across the country to convene joint congresses on Wednesday, October 8, to prepare for a nationwide protest on Thursday, October 9.

The circular further emphasized that members in both federal and state-owned universities must comply strictly with the directive, underscoring the importance of unity and participation.

SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim recently accused the government of lacking sincerity and cautioned that the unions might resort to an indefinite strike if their grievances persist. “Ours will not be the mother of all strikes; it will be the grandfather of all strikes,” he declared, stressing the impact such an action would have.

He also lamented the deteriorating welfare of non-academic university staff, describing them as the most financially, economically, and psychologically distressed group in the education sector.

Like their academic counterparts in ASUU, SSANU and NASU have long been in dispute with the Federal Government over issues of welfare and university funding.