By Terna Chikpa
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Taraba State University, has joined the unions’ nationwide strike.
Comrade Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka, SSANU Chairperson, and Comrade Nkyareuten Musa Ipeyen, JAC Secretary, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that the decision was in compliance with the national directive for a total and comprehensive strike action that commenced on May 1, 2026.
Nigerian Tribune reports that the SSANU/NASU national secretariat, led by Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim, President (SSANU), and Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary (NASU), had issued a circular directing members in all Nigerian universities to commence a total and comprehensive strike to demand that the Federal Government urgently conclude the long-overdue renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with SSANU and NASU, for equity among university-based unions.
“All SSANU and NASU members are hereby directed to commence a TOTAL AND COMPREHENSIVE STRIKE ACTION in all our universities and inter-university centres from 12:00 a.m. on May 1, 2026,” the circular stated.
The circular emphasized that the Federal Government had failed to indicate a clear commitment on when the renegotiation exercise would be concluded during their last meeting.
“The national leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU held a meeting with the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.
“The following government officials were also at the meeting: the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad; the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel O. Enitan; the Executive Secretaries of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Y. Ribadu, and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Dr. Mrs. Angela Ajala, as well as other top officials of government parastatals and agencies.
“The discussion at the meeting centred on the slow pace of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreements for the non-teaching staff unions and our demand for its conclusion not later than April 30, 2026. It also highlighted our rejection of the 30% CONTTA award letter in circulation.
“It is necessary to inform members that, while the government team passionately appealed to the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU to rescind the strike notice, they also withdrew the 30% CONTTA award letter. However, there was no new offer superseding the withdrawn award, nor any definite commitment on when the renegotiation exercise would be concluded.
“Given the mandate of members that only the full approval of our demands—as contained in our letters referenced JAC/NSNOLI/63 and JAC/NSVOL.II/65 dated March 27 and April 18, 2026, respectively—would be acceptable, the leadership, after due consultation, resolved to stand by that mandate.
“In view of this, we hereby direct our members to commence a TOTAL AND COMPREHENSIVE STRIKE ACTION in all our universities and inter-university centres from 12:00 a.m. on May 1, 2026. All NASU and SSANU members are hereby enjoined to comply with this directive for the survival of our existence in the system,” the circular read.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State University branch of the unions, during an emergency meeting on Monday, resolved to withdraw all services and comply with the national JAC directive.
“The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU, Taraba State University branch, during its emergency meeting held on June 4, 2026, resolved to fully comply with the national JAC directive to commence a total and comprehensive strike action that began on May 1, 2026, to demand that the Federal Government urgently conclude the long-overdue renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with SSANU and NASU for equity among university-based unions.
“Pursuant to the above, the congress-in-session unanimously resolved to withdraw its services to comply with the national directive for a total and comprehensive strike action,” the TSU JAC stated.
