The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have declared their intent to continue an indefinite strike despite the partial payment of withheld salaries. This decision comes after the Federal Government released only 50% of the salaries held back during an earlier strike in 2022. NASU and SSANU leaders say the partial payment fails to address their full demands and insist that the withheld salaries from the four-month period must be fully disbursed before any return to work.
The strike, which began on October 27, has led to significant disruptions across Nigerian public universities, affecting administrative functions and services critical to students and staff. This ongoing action stems from frustrations over unmet commitments and perceived lack of respect for agreements reached with government officials. Although the Senate has called for negotiations to prevent further academic disruptions, union leaders, including SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim, have dismissed past government assurances as unreliable and reiterated that the strike will continue until all salary arrears are cleared in full.
This development marks another chapter in the ongoing tension between university staff unions and the government, following a previous eight-month strike in 2022 during which the “no work, no pay” policy was enforced. President Bola Tinubu’s administration had approved partial payments, but union leaders argue that continued delays in the full settlement of arrears highlight deeper issues with the government’s commitment to honoring labor agreements.
