Tension is building across Nigerian universities as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have announced plans to embark on a one-day nationwide protest on Thursday.
The action, coordinated under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of both unions, follows the Federal Government’s alleged failure to honour multiple agreements and address long-standing welfare concerns.
In a circular dated October 6, 2025, titled “Commencement of Protest Actions” and jointly signed by NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions directed all branches to hold emergency meetings on Wednesday to mobilise members for protest marches, placard displays, and press briefings across university campuses.
The decision came after JAC’s meeting on October 6, during which leaders reviewed the government’s inaction despite several expired ultimatums.
Among the major grievances are:
Inequitable disbursement of the N50 billion earned allowances;
Non-payment of two months’ outstanding salaries;
Delays in renegotiating the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreements;
Arrears of 25% and 35% salary increments; and
Non-remittance of third-party deductions for May and June 2022.
The circular stated: “Following the inauguration of the Joint Consultative Committee by the Honourable Minister of Education to look into our demands, the committee has met twice — on September 19 and October 6 — with little progress. Our issues remain unresolved despite multiple extensions of the ultimatum.
Therefore, the National JAC directs all branches to mobilise for a massive and effective one-day protest on Thursday, October 9, 2025.”
The unions emphasised that all members in federal and state-owned universities must fully comply, stressing that unity and discipline were vital for the protest’s success.
SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, accused the government of insincerity and warned that the unions could escalate their action to an indefinite strike if their demands remain unmet.
“Ours will not be the mother of all strikes — it will be the grandfather of all strikes,” Ibrahim warned. “When SSANU or NASU withdraws service, the entire university system feels it.”
He lamented that non-academic workers remain “the worst hit financially, economically, and psychologically” in the education sector, urging members to “take their destinies into their own hands.”
Both SSANU and NASU have been in a prolonged face-off with the Federal Government over issues of staff welfare, pay disparities, and funding shortfalls, similar to the recurring disputes with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
About the Author
