By Ngozi Nwankwo
Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union,NASU,and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities,SSANU, have commenced indefinite nationwide strike today over unpaid allowances.
The unions disclosed the decision in an April 30, 2026 letter to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, citing the Federal Government’s failure to conclude renegotiations and table a new offer on allowances.
Signed by NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim, the letter said the strike will commence at 12:00 a.m. on May 1, 2026.
“We write to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence and to equally appreciate the Honourable Minister of Education for withdrawing the contentious letter,” the union leaders wrote.
While the letter was referring to an earlier circular on a 30 percent increase in the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance, the leaders said , “Despite this, the withdrawal did not resolve the core issues in dispute.”
The unions said consultations with members showed dissatisfaction with the pace of renegotiation. “The consensus outcome of the consultation is that our demand vis-à-vis the slow pace of the renegotiation process has not been met,” the letter stated.
They also noted that no alternative proposal had been made to replace the withdrawn allowance.
“While the letter on the withdrawal of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance is acknowledged, no new offer has been made to supersede the 30 percent allowances contained in the withdrawn letter,” the JAC said.
According to the unions, members had mandated the leadership to act if government failed to conclude negotiations by April 30.
“In view of this, with the agreement not concluded as at 30th April 2026, and with no new offer, the strike action shall commence by 12am on May 1, 2026,” the letter read.
The JAC said the industrial action became “inevitable” following what it described as government’s failure to avert the crisis through meaningful engagement.
“We hereby inform the Federal Government… that as a result of the failure of Government to avert the strike by positively acceding to our demands, all members… will commence total and comprehensive strike action by Friday, May 1, 2026,” said Adeyemi and Ibrahim.
