By: Tijani Salako.

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have directed their members across the country to embark on a total and indefinite strike beginning from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026.

The development is expected to cause fresh disruptions to academic and administrative activities in tertiary institutions nationwide.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of both unions said the decision followed the Federal Government’s failure to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, despite several rounds of engagement.

This was contained in a jointly signed circular issued by NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU National President and JAC Chairman, Mohammed Ibrahim.

According to the unions, the Federal Government has continued to delay the renegotiation process and mishandle issues surrounding the proposed 30 per cent CONTTA salary increment.

The unions disclosed that the decision to proceed on strike was reached after a crucial meeting held on April 29, 2026, between JAC leaders and top government officials ended without any concrete resolution.

Those present at the meeting included the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa; Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad; Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Abel Enitan; as well as heads of key regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

According to the unions, although the government appealed for the suspension of the strike notice and later withdrew the widely criticised 30 per cent CONTTA offer, no fresh proposal or clear timeline for concluding negotiations was presented.

The unions maintained that their members had given a clear mandate that only the full implementation of their demands, as contained in letters dated March 27 and April 18, 2026, would be acceptable.

“With no new offer on the table and no definite commitment from the government, we have no option but to act in line with the directive of our members,” the circular stated.

The strike, described as “total and comprehensive,” affects all federal and state universities as well as inter-university centres across the country.

The unions also disclosed that national monitoring teams had been deployed to ensure full compliance, warning that any branch found undermining the strike action would face sanctions.

“All NASU and SSANU members are hereby enjoined to comply fully with this directive for the survival of our existence in the system,” the statement added.