The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, threatening to shut down public universities from September 22 if their longstanding demands are not addressed.
The threat was issued through a letter dated September 12, 2025, signed by NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, under the umbrella of their Joint Action Committee (JAC).
The unions are protesting:The non-renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU Agreements, The exclusion of inter-university centres from the disbursement of the ₦50 billion earned allowancesThe non-payment of two months’ withheld salaries, and
The delay in implementing 25/35% salary increases
In the letter addressed to the Minister of Education, the unions expressed disappointment over the government’s continued silence and inaction on issues raised since June. They criticized the minister for what they described as a lack of concern for the welfare of non-teaching staff in universities.
The unions recalled a previous meeting held on July 4, 2025, where it was agreed that a tripartite committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and JAC would be formed to resolve the dispute over the lopsided distribution of the ₦50 billion Earned Allowances, which allegedly excluded workers in inter-university centres.
“Despite the resolutions reached at the July meeting, there has been no meaningful progress,” the unions said. “A follow-up letter sent on August 18, 2025, received no response, showing either negligence or deliberate disregard.”
They further noted the government’s continued delay in renegotiating the 2009 agreement as unjustifiable.
“In light of these persistent and unresolved issues, and the apparent lack of responsiveness from the government, we are compelled to issue this 7-day ultimatum, starting from Monday, September 15, 2025. Failure to act will lead to a series of lawful industrial actions, including strikes, to press home our demands,” the statement concluded.
