The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has ordered a total and comprehensive shutdown of universities and inter-university centres nationwide from midnight of Friday, May 1, 2026, following a breakdown of negotiations with the Federal Government over long-standing welfare demands.
The directive, contained in a circular issued from the JAC national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, followed a high-level meeting between the unions and the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside top officials of the education sector.
Those present at the meeting included the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad; the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel O. Enitan; the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Y. Ribadu; the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Dr. (Mrs.) Angela Ajala, as well as other senior government representatives.
According to the unions, discussions focused on the “slow and unsatisfactory” pace of renegotiation of the 2009 agreements for non-teaching staff in the university system and the unresolved controversy surrounding the 30 per cent CONTISS/CONTEDISS salary adjustment.
JAC stated that it had earlier demanded the conclusion of the renegotiation process by April 30, 2026, warning that failure to meet the deadline would trigger industrial action. The unions also reaffirmed their rejection of the 30 per cent CONTTA award letter reportedly in circulation within the system.
Although the Federal Government delegation appealed for the suspension of the planned strike and reportedly withdrew the contested 30 per cent award letter, the unions said no fresh offer was presented, nor was there any firm commitment on when the renegotiation process would be concluded.
“In spite of the government team’s appeal and the withdrawal of the 30 per cent CONTTA award letter, there was no new offer superseding it and no definite timeline for concluding the renegotiation,” the circular stated.
The unions said their action was based on the mandate of members, who insisted that only the full implementation of their demands, as contained in earlier correspondences referenced JAC/NS/VOL.III/63 and JAC/NS/VOL.III/65 dated March 27 and April 18, 2026, would be acceptable.
“Having consulted widely, the leadership resolved to stand by the mandate of our members,” the circular added.
Consequently, the JAC directed all NASU and SSANU members in federal and state universities as well as inter-university centres to withdraw their services completely from 12:00 a.m. on May 1, 2026.
The unions warned that compliance would be strictly monitored by national monitoring teams set up by the JAC, adding that any branch found to have breached the strike directive or granted concessions would face severe sanctions.
“All NASU and SSANU members are hereby enjoined to comply fully with this directive for the survival of our existence in the system,” the statement added.
The impending shutdown is expected to cripple administrative and technical operations across public tertiary institutions nationwide, further heightening tensions in the education sector already grappling with recurring labour disputes over funding and welfare agreements.
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