By Anas Abbas
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have declared a one-day nationwide protest for Thursday, October 9, 2025, over the Federal Government’s failure to address their long-standing demands.
Acting under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), both unions have directed their branches to hold joint emergency congresses on Wednesday, October 8, to mobilise members for the protest.
According to the directive, the protest activities will include peaceful marches within campuses, display of placards, and press briefings to draw public attention to their grievances.
The decision followed a comprehensive review of government actions during JAC’s meeting held on October 6, after the expiration of several ultimatums earlier issued to the Federal Government.
Among the unresolved issues are the alleged unequal disbursement of the ₦50 billion earned allowances, delay in renegotiating the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreements, non-payment of two months’ outstanding salaries, arrears of 25 and 35 per cent salary increments, and non-remittance of third-party deductions for May and June 2022.
JAC had earlier given a seven-day ultimatum to the government on September 15, which was later extended by another 14 days, expiring on Monday, October 6, without any concrete response.
In a circular dated October 6, 2025, and titled “Commencement of Protest Actions,” jointly signed by NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions instructed all branches to fully participate in the protest.
The circular stated, “Following the inauguration of the Joint Consultative Committee by the Honourable Minister of Education to look into the demands of JAC of NASU and SSANU, the committee met twice on Friday, 19th September 2025, and Monday, 6th October 2025 with little progress, as our demands remain unresolved despite the extension of the ultimatum.”
It added that all members in both federal and state-owned universities “are expected to strictly comply with this directive,” stressing that unity and total participation were crucial to the success of the action.
SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, recently accused the government of insincerity, warning that the unions could declare an indefinite strike if their demands remain unmet.
“Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes’; it will be the grandfather of all strikes,” Ibrahim said. “When SSANU or NASU strike, you know what it means. We must take our destinies in our hands.”
He also lamented the worsening condition of non-academic staff in universities, describing them as “the worst hit financially, economically, and psychologically.”
Both SSANU and NASU have been in prolonged disagreement with the Federal Government over issues relating to staff welfare, funding, and the implementation of existing agreements, like Academic staff union of universities ( ASUU)