The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) are set to commence a nationwide strike from Friday, May 1, 2026.
Both unions confirmed the action in a letter dated April 30, 2026, addressed to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
The letter, signed by NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, stated that the industrial action would take effect at midnight.
“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 said.
“Despite this, the withdrawal did not resolve the core issues in dispute.
“The consensus outcome of the consultation is that our demand vis-à-vis the slow pace of the renegotiation process has not been met,” they said.
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The unions explained that the Federal Government had yet to present a fresh proposal on allowances following the withdrawal of an earlier circular that approved a 30 per cent increase in the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools 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Tools Allowance is acknowledged, no new offer has been made to supersede the 30 per cent allowances contained in the withdrawn letter,” they stated.
According to the committee, its members had earlier directed the leadership to act if negotiations were not concluded by the end of April.
“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 unions said the strike became unavoidable due to the government’s failure to address their demands through meaningful dialogue.
“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,” Adeyemi and Ibrahim added.
The action is expected to disrupt key administrative and support services in federal tertiary institutions, raising fresh concerns over instability in Nigeria’s university system amid recurring labour disputes.