SSANU, NASU Renew Battle With FG Over 2009 Agreement

There are significant signs that the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff and Allied Association in Universities (NASU) may be ready to confront the Federal Government, a situation that could once again disrupt academic activities.

Our reporter has learnt that both unions might initiate an indefinite strike by October 6, 2025, following the end of a two-week extension of the ultimatum they previously issued to the government.

The central issue behind their protests is the alleged neglect regarding the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.

SSANU voiced serious concerns about what it termed the federal government’s ongoing disregard for existing memoranda of understanding (MoUs), memoranda of action (MoAs), and other collective bargaining agreements that have been formally agreed upon by both parties.

The Union emphasised that such agreements, which are achieved through structured dialogue and mutual agreement, are binding and should be fully respected, warning that if this pattern of neglect persists, the Union will have no option but to pursue all lawful and appropriate measures to ensure compliance.

This and other matters were detailed in its statement following the conclusion of its 52nd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education in Owerri, Imo State, recently.

In the communiqué signed by its President, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, SSANU expressed discontent over the inequitable and minimal allocation of the N50 billion Earned Allowance, where only 20 per cent, equating to N10 billion, was assigned to the three non-teaching unions: SSANU, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), which is in stark contrast to the N50 billion agreed upon in the signed MoU/MoA prior to the suspension of the 2022 industrial action.

“This distribution is unjust and discriminatory and disregards the crucial role that SSANU members fulfil in the effective operation of Nigerian universities. Additionally, it violates the MoU/MoA agreed upon with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU in August 2022,” it stated.

The association demanded the immediate disbursement of the remaining ₦40 billion earned allowance to ensure fairness, equity, and inclusivity among all non-teaching staff unions of universities and inter-university centres, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding and memorandum of action that were established with the unions.

The statement noted: “Following thorough discussions on national matters and the welfare of its members, the NEC expressed profound disappointment regarding the continued silence and lack of action from the Federal Government’s Renegotiation Committee concerning the 2009 FG/SSANU Agreement.”