Operations across federal universities and inter-university centres in Nigeria are set to be disrupted from Friday as two major non-teaching staff unions have announced the commencement of a nationwide strike.
The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities confirmed the decision in a letter dated April 30, 2026, addressed to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
The unions said the strike would commence at midnight on May 1, 2026, following what they described as the Federal Government’s failure to conclude ongoing renegotiations and present a new offer on allowances.
The letter, signed by NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi and SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim, noted that while the government had withdrawn an earlier circular on a 30 per cent increase in the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance, the action did not resolve the core issues in dispute.
“Despite this, the withdrawal did not resolve the core issues in dispute,” the unions said.
“The consensus outcome of the consultation is that our demand vis-à-vis the slow pace of the renegotiation process has not been met.”
The unions further complained that no alternative proposal had been presented to replace the withdrawn allowance structure.
“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Tools Allowance is acknowledged, no new offer has been made to supersede the 30 per cent allowances contained in the withdrawn letter,” the statement read.
According to the Joint Action Committee, members had earlier mandated the leadership to proceed with industrial action if negotiations were not concluded by April 30.
“In view of this, with the agreement not concluded as at 30th April 2026, and with no new offer, the strike action shall commence by 12am on May 1, 2026,” the letter stated.
The unions said the decision followed what they described as the government’s failure to prevent a breakdown in industrial relations despite repeated engagements.
“We hereby inform the Federal Government that as a result of the failure of Government to avert the strike by positively acceding to our demands, all members will commence total and comprehensive strike action by Friday, May 1, 2026,” Adeyemi and Ibrahim added.
The industrial action is expected to shut down administrative and support services in federal universities nationwide, raising fresh concerns over academic disruptions in a sector already affected by recurring labour disputes in recent years.