KEY POINTS

• SSANU and NASU will suspend their nationwide strike from May 11, 2026.
• The Federal Government promised to conclude pending negotiations within two weeks.
• The strike had disrupted administrative operations in public universities nationwide

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, have agreed to suspend their nationwide strike beginning Monday, May 11, 2026.

The decision followed several meetings between the unions and the Federal Government over unresolved issues, including salary structure reviews, welfare concerns, and the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.

In a circular sent to union branches, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU directed members to begin processes for suspending the industrial action after receiving assurances from the government.

According to the unions, the Federal Government promised to conclude all pending renegotiations within two weeks after the strike is suspended.

The circular, jointly signed by NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi and SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim, stated that the agreement was reached during talks with the government’s Expanded Renegotiation Committee led by former Head of Service, Yayale Ahmed.

The unions explained that the government also discussed the review of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS), including the controversial 30 per cent salary increase proposal previously withdrawn.

Branch leaders across public universities have now been directed to hold congresses to brief members and ratify the suspension decision.

SSANU and NASU began the strike on May 1, 2026, over delays in implementing agreements covering salaries, allowances, and working conditions for non-academic university staff.

The strike affected administrative activities in public universities nationwide, disrupting student registration, documentation, hostel management, and other support services.

Although lecturers were not part of the strike, many universities experienced partial shutdowns because of the absence of non-teaching staff.

The planned suspension is expected to restore normal operations across campuses while negotiations with the government continue.