The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Sokoto State University chapter, has shut down services at the institution following the commencement of a five-working-day warning strike over unresolved staff entitlements.
The union cautioned that it would begin an indefinite strike should the Sokoto State Government fail to meet its demands before the warning action expired.
The strike began on Monday, November 2, after a 14-working-day ultimatum issued to the state government on October 14 had elapsed.
In a statement released to journalists on Monday and jointly signed by the chapter chairman, Ismail Bala Muhammed, and secretary, Mansur Ahmad, SSANU said the move came after attempts to settle the dispute through dialogue and engagements with relevant government officials proved unsuccessful.
The union said, “Despite repeated engagements, appeals and consultations with relevant government authorities, no concrete action has been taken to address the legitimate demands of our members.”
SSANU is calling for the payment of arrears tied to the 25 per cent salary increment, the approval and implementation of the 35 per cent Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance, annual salary increments for eligible members, and the release of outstanding check-off dues.
The union stated that it had earlier engaged the Commissioner for Higher Education, the ministry’s permanent secretary, and the deputy governor in an effort to settle the issues amicably.
It further noted that the government later set up a committee to engage university-based unions from Sokoto State University and Shehu Shagari University of Education.
The statement said that at a meeting held on October 9, the government insisted the arrears from the 25 percent salary increment would not be paid and that implementation of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance would begin in January 2027, subject to budgetary provision.
The union, however, rejected that stance, maintaining that it did not address the concerns of its members.
“Despite resubmitting our demands as requested by the Permanent Secretary, the government failed to take any concrete action before the expiration of the ultimatum,” the statement said.
The association insisted that the 35 per cent allowance was a legitimate entitlement, pointing out that comparable allowances had been granted to academic staff under the Academic Staff Union of Universities and to other categories of workers in state-owned tertiary institutions.
It urged Governor Ahmed Aliyu to step in personally by approving the outstanding demands so as to keep the dispute from escalating.
The union also appealed to traditional institutions, parents, students, and other stakeholders to step in and help bring about an amicable resolution.
SSANU cautioned that should the government fail to meet its demands by the end of the five-working-day warning strike, it would be left with no choice but to commence a total and indefinite shutdown of services at the university.
