The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have announced a one-day nationwide protest on Thursday to press the Federal Government to address their unresolved demands.
Acting through the Joint Action Committee (JAC), both unions instructed all branches to hold joint emergency meetings on Wednesday to mobilize members. Planned activities include campus marches, placard displays, and press briefings.
The protest follows a review of the government’s responses during JAC’s October 6 meeting, after multiple ultimatums expired without progress. Key issues include the alleged unfair distribution of N50 billion in earned allowances, delays in renegotiating the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreements, non-payment of two months’ outstanding salaries, arrears of 25% and 35% salary increments, and unpaid third-party deductions for May and June 2022.
The unions had previously issued a seven-day ultimatum on September 15, extended by 14 days, which expired on Monday, October 6.
In a circular titled “Commencement of Protest Actions,” NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi and SSANU National President Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim directed full participation from all members. The memo stated:
“Following the inauguration of the Joint Consultative Committee by the Honourable Minister of Education to examine the demands of JAC of NASU & SSANU, the committee met twice — on Friday, 19th September 2025, and Monday, 6th October 2025 — with little progress. Our demands remain unresolved despite the extension of the ultimatum.
“In light of this, the National JAC directs branch leadership in universities and inter-university centres nationwide to convene a joint congress on Wednesday, 8th October 2025, to mobilise for a massive and effective one-day protest on Thursday, 9th October 2025.”
The circular stressed strict compliance, emphasizing unity as key to a successful demonstration.
SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim warned that if their demands continue to be ignored, the unions may escalate to an indefinite strike. “Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes’; it will be the grandfather of all strikes,” he said, highlighting the dire financial, economic, and psychological conditions of non-academic staff.
Like ASUU, SSANU and NASU have long been in conflict with the Federal Government over staff welfare and university funding issues.