SSANU, NASU Talks with FG End in Deadlock — University Strike Worsens

Negotiations between the Federal Government and the Joint Action Committee of non-academic staff unions in Nigerian universities collapsed on Monday in Abuja, ending without resolution as the indefinite strike entered its sixth day with no end in sight.

The meeting, convened by Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa, brought together representatives of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU). After hours of talks, the session was adjourned to Tuesday at 3 p.m. for further negotiations — a sign that the fundamental disagreement over pay remains unresolved.

The core of the dispute is a salary increase percentage. The Federal Government offered a 30 per cent adjustment, which the unions rejected as inadequate and unilaterally imposed. SSANU and NASU are holding firm at a minimum 40 per cent increase, and insist the adjustment must be negotiated through proper collective bargaining — not handed down by the government.

SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim confirmed that government representatives explained the circumstances behind the earlier withdrawal of the 30 per cent offer and appealed to the unions to suspend the strike while talks continued. The unions declined to commit without consulting their broader membership.

“Our position remains the same: we’ve asked for equity, consideration and fairness, so nothing has changed. We will go and listen to them at the meeting, but the strike is on,” Ibrahim said before Monday’s session.

The industrial action, which began April 30, has paralysed support services across public universities nationwide. Administrative offices, clinics, hostels, finance departments and academic support units have all been shut down. The University of Maiduguri has postponed its ongoing e-examinations indefinitely, with the institution citing “disruptions caused by the strike” in a memo from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.

At the University of Jos, SSANU and NASU members staged a protest march from the main gate to the Senate Building on Monday. SSANU Chairperson at UNIJOS, Anthony Jauro, directly criticised the federal government’s approach, saying: “Why create disparity? Are you trying to create a crisis? Creating division among staff welfare in the university system is not good.”

NASU Chairperson at UNIJOS, Monday Danjuma, went further, accusing the Minister of Education of bias. “The Federal Government should do the needful. The Minister of Education is taking sides and creating division within the university system,” he said.

Students in affected institutions are now facing prolonged disruptions to academic calendars, with exams postponed, hostels shut, and essential campus services suspended. Unless Tuesday’s resumed talks produce a breakthrough, the shutdown of Nigeria’s public university system is set to deepen.

Sources: NaijaNews, NigeriaLive24, The Eagle, Punch