The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have declared a one-day protest on Thursday over the failure of the Federal Government to address their demands.
SSANU and NASU, through the Joint Action Committee, have directed all of their branches to hold a joint emergency meeting on Wednesday to mobilize all of their members for protest activities such as campus protest marches, placard displays conveying their grievances, and press conferences.
JAC decided to launch a demonstration on October 6 after conducting a thorough analysis of the government’s response to the series of ultimatums it had previously issued.
The contentious issues include the alleged unjust disbursement of N50 billion in earned allowances, the delay in renegotiation of the 2009 FGN and NASU/SSANU agreements, the non-payment of outstanding two-month salaries, the non-payment of arrears of 25% and 35% salary arrears, and the non-payment of third-party deductions of the two-month salaries (May and June, 2022), among others.
Remember that JAC issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government on September 15 to resolve its concerns, which was extended for an additional fourteen days and expired on Monday, October 6.
In a note to all NASU and SSANU chairmen in universities and inter-university centers headlined “Commencement of protest actions,” JAC stressed that active involvement and engagement are critical to the protest’s success.
The circular, dated October 6, was signed by Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU National President, and Prince Peters Adeyemi, NASU General Secretary.
It reads, “The last circular of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational & Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) titled “Current Status of Our Agitations” referenced JAC/NS/Vol. III/55, dated 22nd September 2025, refers.
“As referenced in the circular, the Federal Government was granted a 14-day extension, following the lapse of the initial 7 days, to address our concerns vis-à-vis.
“Following the inauguration of the Joint Consultative Committee by the Honourable Minister of Education to look into the demands of JAC of NASU & SSANU, the Committee met twice on Friday, 19th September, 2025, and Monday, 6th October, 2025, at the Permanent Secretary’s Conference Room, Abuja, with little progress, as our demands remain unresolved despite the extension of the ultimatum.
“In light of this development, the National JAC at its meeting held on Monday, 6th October, 2025, hereby directs branch leadership in the universities and inter-university centers throughout the country to convene a joint congress in their respective campuses on Wednesday, 8th October, 2025, to mobilize and prepare for a massive and effective ONE-DAY protest on Thursday, 9th October, 2025.
It further stated, “All members of NASU & SSANU in both federal & state-owned universities are expected to strictly comply with this directive. Your cooperation and strict adherence are essential to achieving success in our demands.”
Remember that SSANU’s president, Ibrahim, recently accused the government of being dishonest with the union.
He warned that if the government does not meet their demands, the strike will be total, indefinite, and absolute.
“Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes’; it will be the grandfather of all strikes, because when SSANU or NASU strikes, you know what it means. We must take our destinies in our hands,” Ibrahim said.
The SSANU president lamented university employees’ working conditions, claiming they are the hardest hit financially, economically, and psychologically.
