The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has given the Federal Government a firm deadline of December 31, 2025, to conclude renegotiations on outstanding issues affecting non-teaching university staff. The union warned that failure to reach an agreement would lead to the indefinite closure of universities across the country from January 2026.
The warning came in a communiqué released on Monday after SSANU’s 53rd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Jos. The statement, signed by the union’s President, Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, accused the government of sidelining non-teaching staff in both the payment of earned allowances and in the ongoing renegotiation process.
“The Federal Government has shown inadequate commitment to addressing the welfare of non-teaching staff in our universities. If the renegotiation process is not concluded by December 31, universities across Nigeria will be shut down indefinitely,” the statement said.
SSANU highlighted that the N50 billion agreed upon in the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has not been fully released. The union also demanded that Inter-University Centres and research institutes, which were excluded from previous payments, be included in the next disbursement.
The union warned that unresolved grievances would trigger a “total and comprehensive” industrial action, affecting millions of students, staff, and the academic calendar nationwide.
In addition to financial grievances, SSANU raised concern over the growing insecurity in educational institutions. The union cited recent kidnappings in Kebbi and Niger States as evidence of worsening threats to students and staff.
SSANU urged the government to strengthen campus security through modern surveillance systems, improved perimeter protection, and better intelligence gathering. “The safety of students and staff must be a priority. Universities cannot function effectively under continuous security threats,” the communiqué stated.
The union also rejected the Federal Ministry of Education’s proposal to introduce Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements for municipal services in universities. SSANU argued that previous PPP models in other sectors had resulted in job losses and poorer working conditions for staff.
“No staff should lose their jobs or be downgraded under any PPP arrangement. The government must ensure job security for all university employees,” the union said.
SSANU highlighted the deteriorating state of university infrastructure, pointing to unreliable electricity, faulty water systems, dilapidated hostels, outdated laboratories, and weak security structures. The union called for predictable funding, timely release of resources, and stricter monitoring to ensure funds are used effectively.
The union also noted that rising inflation and fuel costs have worsened the hardship faced by university workers. SSANU demanded an urgent wage review that reflects current economic realities, emphasizing that staff must be adequately compensated to maintain morale and productivity.
SSANU is one of the major unions representing non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities, including administrative, technical, and support personnel. The union has a long history of industrial actions in Nigeria, often striking over unpaid allowances, poor working conditions, and infrastructure deficiencies.
University strikes in Nigeria have historically disrupted academic calendars, affecting not just students and staff but also the broader society, as delays in graduation impact employment and further education opportunities. SSANU’s threat comes at a time when the country is already dealing with challenges in education, including underfunding, overcrowded classrooms, and a shortage of qualified teaching personnel.
If SSANU follows through on its threat, millions of students could face extended academic sessions, delayed graduations, and interruptions to research and postgraduate programs. The union stressed that the government must act swiftly to avoid a nationwide disruption.
While the union has issued a hard deadline, SSANU emphasized its willingness to engage in dialogue with the Federal Government to resolve disputes amicably. The union called for the government to show good faith by releasing pending payments and including all eligible institutions in the next disbursement.
“The government has an opportunity to prevent a crisis in our universities. We remain open to discussion, but our patience is limited,” Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim said.
