Tension is mounting in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non Academic Staff Union have issued a strike notice over lingering disputes with the federal government.
The unions signaled plans for industrial action amid the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 salary structure agreement for university workers, citing the government’s failure to fully implement the deal.
In a joint statement, SSANU and NASU expressed frustration over what they described as repeated but unsuccessful attempts to engage authorities in meaningful dialogue.
“Repeated calls for dialogue with the federal government have not yielded meaningful progress, leaving workers frustrated,” the unions stated.
They warned that failure by the government to address their demands promptly would trigger a nationwide strike, potentially crippling academic activities across public universities.
The unions also raised concerns about the ripple effects of such action on students, noting that prolonged industrial disputes often disrupt academic calendars, delay examinations, and extend graduation timelines.
This latest development adds to the recurring labour tensions in Nigeria’s university system, underscoring persistent challenges surrounding staff welfare and strained relations between government and education sector unions.
Observers say urgent intervention will be required to avert another shutdown in the sector as negotiations continue.
