Operations in federal universities and inter-university centres across Nigeria are expected to be disrupted from Friday as 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 declared a nationwide strike.
The unions announced the decision in a letter dated April 30, 2026, addressed to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, citing the Federal Government’s failure to conclude ongoing negotiations and present an acceptable offer on allowances.
The letter, jointly signed by NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed that the industrial action would begin at midnight on May 1, 2026.
According to the unions, although the Minister had withdrawn a controversial circular relating to a proposed 30 percent increase in the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance, the action did not resolve the core issues in dispute.
They explained that the withdrawal was acknowledged but insisted that no fresh proposal had been presented to replace the earlier offer or address their demands.
The unions also noted that their members had previously directed leadership to take action if negotiations were not concluded by the April 30 deadline.
With no agreement reached and no new proposal submitted, the JAC said the strike was unavoidable and would be total and comprehensive across all affected institutions.
They accused the Federal Government of failing to engage meaningfully enough to prevent the industrial action, warning that academic and administrative activities in federal universities would be severely affected.
