The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions directed branch leaders to begin processes for suspending the industrial action effective Monday, 11 May, 2026.
In a circular obtained on Wednesday, jointly signed by SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi, the unions said they secured a commitment from the Federal Government to conclude renegotiations within two weeks of suspending the strike.
“The leadership of JAC… extracted a commitment… that all renegotiations, including a reviewed offer of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure, shall be concluded in two weeks,” the statement read.
The directive followed a series of negotiations with the Federal Government over unresolved demands, including the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and welfare-related concerns.
The breakthrough followed a meeting with the Federal Government’s Expanded Renegotiation Committee led by Yayale Ahmed.
Directive to Branches
The unions instructed branch chairpersons to convene congresses to brief members and ratify the decision.
“Branch leaders are hereby urged… to convene congresses… for a suspension of the strike effective from Monday, 11 May, 2026,” the circular stated.
They noted that discussions also cover a previously proposed 30 per cent salary increase under the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS), which had been withdrawn earlier.
Strike Background
NASU and SSANU commenced the strike on 1 May, citing delays by the Federal Government in concluding the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.
The industrial action disrupted key administrative functions in universities, including student registration, documentation, and hostel management.
Although academic staff were not directly involved, the absence of non-teaching personnel significantly affected operations, leading to partial shutdowns in many institutions.
The development comes amid recurring disruptions in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, often triggered by disputes between government and university unions.
The planned suspension is expected to ease immediate tensions, though stakeholders say long-term stability will depend on the government’s ability to meet agreed timelines and implement reforms.
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