The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike beginning May 1.
May 1 is celebrated globally as International Worker’s Day.
The directive was issued in a strike notice dated April 30, jointly signed by NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU President, Mohammad Ibrahim.
The unions attributed the action to the federal government’s slow progress in renegotiating the 2009 agreement with non-academic staff, noting that a similar process with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had already been concluded with an agreement signed in December.
The strike decision came a day after a meeting between union leaders and a federal government delegation led by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, where discussions focused on the stalled renegotiation.
Although some progress was recorded during the talks, the unions said it was insufficient to halt the planned industrial action.
While some agreements were reached at the meeting, it was not enough to stop the union from embarking on the strike action, the statement said.
“Given the mandate of members that only the full approval of our demands,would be acceptable, the leadership, after due consultation, resolved to stand by that mandate,” the statement reads in part.
“In view of this, we hereby direct our members to commence total and comprehensive strike action in all our universities and Inter-University Centres campuses from 12:00 a.m. of 1st May, 2026.”
