University Strike Looms As FG Meets SSANU, NASU, NAAT

Fresh tensions are building across Nigeria’s university syste as the Federal Government convenes an emergency meeting with non-teaching staff unions in a last-minute effort to prevent a nationwide strike.

The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday at the Federal Ministry of Education Conference Hall in Abuja, comes days before a deadline issued by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities expires on April 30, 2026. The union had earlier demanded the conclusion of ongoing renegotiation talks, warning that failure could trigger an indefinite industrial action.

Alongside SSANU, two other unions, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and the National Association of Academic Technologists, have also rejected the Federal Government’s proposed 30 per cent salary increase, describing it as inadequate and not reflective of a negotiated agreement.

Available information indicates that the three unions have maintained a common front, insisting that any revised agreement must be finalised and signed before the deadline. Their position follows resolutions reached at internal meetings, where members reportedly mandated their leadership to resist offers that fall short of expectations.

A source familiar with the discussions, cited in earlier reports, confirmed that the unions remain firm and are not inclined to shift their stance. According to the source, the demand is clear: a renegotiated agreement that meets their expectations must be concluded before the end of April or industrial action will commence.

“We have our demands, and we said the renegotiated agreement must be signed on or before April 30,” the source was quoted as saying. “We rejected their 30 per cent offer. We expect them to do the needful by the 30th.”

The source added that union members are prepared to proceed with a strike if the government fails to present a revised offer considered acceptable. “We don’t know if they’ll make a new offer or just appeal to us not to strike. We won’t change our position—if they fail to make a reasonable offer, we proceed with the strike,” the source stated.

The Federal Government’s latest move signals growing concern over the potential disruption to academic and administrative activities across federal universities and inter-university centres. Past industrial actions by university unions have led to prolonged shutdowns, affecting academic calendars and student progression nationwide.

While the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting remains uncertain, the narrow window before the April 30 deadline places pressure on both parties to reach a compromise. The coming days are likely to determine whether Nigeria’s university system avoids another cycle of disruption or enters a fresh phase of labour unrest.