SSANU/NASU Strike: FG Resumes Talks With University Staff Unions Today

By Ponmile Elizabeth Updated on May 04, 2026

Essential Highlights

FG resumes talks with SSANU and NASU today as the unions continue their nationwide strike.

Meeting involves JAC leaders and the Minister of Education
SSANU and NASU began the strike on Friday, 1 May 2026
Unions cite delayed talks and no fresh allowance offer
Strike may stop admin and support work in federal universities

Keep reading for the full update on the SSANU NASU strike.

SSANU NASU Strike: FG Resumes Talks

The Federal Government has invited the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU to a fresh meeting today, Monday, as both unions continue their nationwide strike.

A source who spoke from Abuja on Sunday said the meeting will involve the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa. The aim is plain enough: the government wants the unions to suspend the strike, but the staff groups still want a firm offer on their demands.

FG Calls SSANU and NASU Leaders to Meeting

The leadership of the Joint Action Committee, JAC, made up of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions, NASU, has been called to a reconciliatory meeting.

A highly placed source said the invitation came from the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government has called on the leadership of the unions to attend a meeting. It’s with the minister of education, and we hope that they present a reasonable offer this time around,” the source said.

That last line carries the mood around the talks. The unions are not asking for another round of loose promises; they want a clear answer on allowances and the renegotiation process.

Why SSANU and NASU Began the Strike

SSANU and NASU began their nationwide strike on Friday, 1 May 2026.

Their decision came through a letter dated 30 April 2026 and addressed to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa. The unions said the Federal Government had failed to complete the ongoing renegotiations and had not presented a fresh offer on allowances.

The letter was signed by NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim.

According to the letter, the strike was to start at midnight on 1 May 2026.

What the Unions Said About the Withdrawn Allowance Letter

The union leaders said they received the government’s correspondence and also acknowledged the withdrawal of the contentious letter on the 30 per cent increase in the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance.

“We write to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence and to equally appreciate the Honourable Minister of Education for withdrawing the contentious letter,” they said.

Yet that withdrawal did not settle the dispute.

The unions said the main issues remained unresolved because no fresh offer had been placed before them to replace the withdrawn allowance proposal.

“While the letter on the withdrawal of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance is acknowledged, no new offer has been made to supersede the 30 per cent allowances contained in the withdrawn letter,” the letter stated.

JAC Says Members Gave a Clear Mandate

The Joint Action Committee said its members had already directed the leadership to act if the Federal Government failed to conclude negotiations by 30 April 2026.

That deadline passed without an agreement.

“In view of this, with the agreement not concluded as of 30th April 2026, and with no new offer, the strike action shall commence by 12am of 1st May 2026,” the letter read.

The unions said the strike became unavoidable after the government failed to meet their demands through clear engagement.

“We hereby inform the Federal Government… that as a result of the failure of the government to apprehend the strike by positively acceding to our demands, all members… will commence total and comprehensive strike action by Friday, 1st of May, 2026,” Adeyemi and Ibrahim added.

Strike May Affect Federal Universities

The strike is expected to stop administrative and support services in federal tertiary schools.

That could raise fresh concerns across Nigeria’s university system, which has seen repeated labour disputes over the years. For students and staff, the next move now rests on what comes out of today’s meeting between the government and the union leaders.