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  • CONUA, SSANU, NASU to Fed Govt: give us our own deal

    CONUA, SSANU, NASU to Fed Govt: give us our own deal

    The Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have urged the Federal Government to urgently conclude renegotiations with them. According to them, the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) agreement is a welcome development, but it does not automatically translate to total industrial peace in the university system. Stakeholders have joined SSANU, NASU and NAAT in asserting that the government must urgently conclude renegotiations to avoid fresh unrest and sustain the current stability on campuses, Assistant Editor Bola Olajuwon writes

    Last week, the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) signed and unveiled a landmark renegotiated agreement. Parents, students and other education stakeholders expressed a sigh of relief since the new deal replaced the controversial 2009 pact. It was aimed at ending nearly two decades of industrial friction in the university system.

    The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the agreement as a “decisive turning point” for Nigerian education. To ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, the union remains cautious regarding the “totality” of the government’s implementation based on past experiences.

    President, National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Alhaji Haruna Danjuma and Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Adeyemi Samson Ajasa, among others, hailed the signing of the agreement.

    Danjuma, in a chat with The Nation, said: “It’s a great turning point in restoring stability, trust and quality in Nigerian tertiary education systems if Federal Government stands by the agreement, and on the other side I urge ASUU to accept the agreement now that the government has unveiled the renegotiation agreement as part of their own contributions, we therefore commend the efforts of the Minister of Education for facilitating this agreement, and we hope he will ensure total execution of the agreement.”

    Ajasa said: “I believe this new agreement will build a new stability and ensure proper funding of education, with all these previous agitations resolved. I believe it will take proper and immediate effect, whereby all parties will be satisfied.

    “This should also motivate the lecturers and staff to do their best and deliver proper education and teaching and learning to students, including proper research works.”

    SSANU, NASU announce indefinite strike’s threats

    But not surprising though, other university unions, such as Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have threatened indefinite strikes over alleged non-completion of pending agreements with them. The other university union is the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

    SSANU and NASU have demanded that the government meet its obligations, concerning the payment of withheld four months’ salaries from 2022 and implementing agreements like the 2009 renegotiation and the N35,000 wage award.

    A statement signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary, NASU and Mohammed Ibrahim, President, SSANU and Chairman of JAC, said: “JAC of NASU and SSANU remains committed to the entrenchment of industrial harmony and sustainable communities in our universities, and calls on the Federal Government to ensure expedited action in the ongoing renegotiation with NASU and SSANU, as any further delay after the signing of today’s agreement with our sister union would be tantamount to a clear invitation to chaos, and the distortion of industrial peace which we have continued to maintain despite government’s continued insensitivity to the university system and the gruesome conditions under which our members are made to work.

    “JAC notes that timely conclusion of the ongoing renegotiation with NASU and SSANU would avert the breakdown of industrial peace and harmony in the system, and hereby advises the Federal Government not to stir the hornet’s nest through any form of delay tactics.”

    The SSANU and JAC Chairman, in an interview, warned that the relief expressed by stakeholders might be short-lived unless the government urgently concluded negotiations with other university-based unions.

    According to him, the “solution to this is simple: the government must deploy all necessary resources, strategies, and political will through the existing renegotiation committee to conclude discussions with the remaining three non-teaching staff unions with the speed of light.”

    In that regard, the most brilliant move this present government can make at this moment regarding industrial peace and harmony, and smooth operation of tertiary education in the country is to build on the quantum leap it has taken by finally addressing the lingering issue of the 2009 agreement renegotiation with ASUU, an issue that dragged on for 16 years.

    “Having taken this wise decision to this problem in the bud, it is only logical and strategic that the process should now flow naturally to the other university-based unions. These unions also have outstanding 2009 agreements awaiting renegotiation, and the government has already commenced discussions with them. It is, therefore, paramount, timely, and strategic that the government concludes all outstanding renegotiations, ideally within the shortest possible time, even within the next one month.

    “Doing so will send a powerful signal to workers across the university system that this is a responsive government; one that genuinely has the interest of workers and its citizens at heart. So now that that of ASUU is concluded, all eyes are focused on what the government will do concerning the conclusion of negotiation of the same 1999 agreement with NASU, SSANU and NAAT.”

    He argued that since all tertiary education–based unions have anchored their demands on the same 1999 agreement framework, stressing that the Federal Government should shun staggered or selective conclusion of negotiations with separate unions

    Ibrahim strongly advised the Federal Government to urgently conclude renegotiations with the remaining three university-based unions.

    Also, the CONUA National President, ‘Niyi Sunmonu, PhD, said his association recognised that issues arising from the 2009 agreements extend beyond a single union and affect the wider university system. The conclusion of the renegotiation between the Federal Government and ASUU, he said, in 2025 represents progress, particularly given how long those matters remained unresolved.

    “More importantly, negotiations in the university sector are ongoing and not limited to one union. Other university-based unions, including CONUA, NASU and SSANU, have outstanding issues that require timely and good-faith engagement. For reforms to be comprehensive and for industrial peace to be durable, it is essential that the Federal Government expedites negotiations with all recognised and registered unions,” Sunmonu said.

    Primary points of contention

    As of this month, the funding and labour disagreements between NASU, SSANU, and the Federal Government centre on perceived marginalisation compared to academic staff and unfulfilled financial commitments.

    The contentions include:

    The “Sharing Formula” Dispute: A major grievance involves the distribution of the N50 billion intervention fund. The unions reject the government’s formula, which they claim allocates roughly 70–80% of the funds to ASUU, leaving only 20–30% to be shared among all non-teaching unions.

    Inclusion of Specific Centres: SSANU has demanded that Inter-University Centres and research institutes, which they claim were “wrongly excluded” from previous payments, be fully included in future disbursements.

    “No Work, No Pay” Backlog: The unions are demanding the payment of salaries withheld during past industrial actions, specifically for several months in 2022.

    Salary Increment Arrears: There is a persistent demand for the payment of arrears from the 25% and 35% salary increments previously promised to university staff.

    Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement: Following a milestone agreement signed between the Federal Government and ASUU on January 14, 2026, NASU and SSANU have warned of “chaos” and potential strike action if their own renegotiations are not fast-tracked.

    Demand for a Living Wage: The unions are seeking a comprehensive review of conditions of service and a wage increase that reflects current economic realities.

    Ministry’s position

    Following the Federal Government’s agreement with ASUU, the Federal Ministry Education is under pressure to conclude similar negotiations with the non-teaching staff to avoid disrupting industrial harmony in universities.

    Alausa has acknowledged the ongoing negotiations and indicated that the government is working to address the welfare of both academic and non-academic staff.

    The ministry has previously stated it is engaging with the unions to address grievances and has urged restraint regarding threats of strike action, asserting that the government is working in phases to meet demands.

    While the minister has expressed optimism about the ongoing process, the unions have stated that “something substantial has not yet happened,” warning that the lack of concrete, finalised offers could lead to a breakdown in peace.

    The ministry has, however, streamlined the negotiation process, moving from multiple committees to a single committee led by Yahaya Ahmed to handle negotiations with all tertiary institution unions, including NASU and SSANU.

    Stakeholders: why govt must conclude deal with SSANU, NASU

    The Chairman of Board of Trustees, National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, while reacting over the issue, urged the Federal Government to try and engage and negotiate with the non-academic unions.

    “But usual trouble is they also want the same thing as academic staff. And that has not been tied in with the government.

    “But if they have been doing the same thing for them, both SSANU and NASU, they should work out a commensurate service policy to also satisfy them. Definitely, I’m in total support of negotiating with them to ensure that they also treat them fairly. A situation where they won’t touch the 2009 agreement at all may be counter-productive in the university because they will now start their issues again.

    “But they should try and be reasonable when they’re on the negotiating table with the Federal Government. There’s no way that the Federal Government can treat ASUU, SSANU and NASU the same way.

    “If they have been on the same negotiating standpoint – the 2009 agreement with the ASUU, the 2009 agreement with SANU and the other bodies – it is the same thing. I think it’s only fair the government concludes the agreement with them for peace and harmony on our campuses.”

    However, Sunmonu called for inclusive, sector-wide engagement that promotes equity, transparency, and stability across the university system.

    He said: “Our position is grounded in law and international labour standards. Nigeria is a signatory to ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which guarantee freedom of association, protect collective bargaining rights, and recognise union pluralism as a legitimate feature of modern labour relations. These conventions do not establish a monopoly for any union; rather, they require good-faith bargaining and respect for lawful representation.

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    “CONUA remains committed to constructive dialogue, responsible unionism, and policies that strengthen Nigeria’s tertiary education system for the benefit of staff, students.

    The National Coordinator, Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Hassan Taiwo Soweto, in his contribution, asserted that the demands of the unions have always been rational and legitimate.

    “Also, these demands have always been in the interest of public education. Without the resolute struggle of ASUU, SSANU, NASU and other unions in the education sector, the reality would have been gorier than what is presently obtainable.

    “However, the newly signed agreement is like a drop of water into an ocean. The 40% increment in the monthly earning through additional allowance is not in conformity with the rate of inflation, which has eroded such increase in wage.

    “We strongly believe that ASUU can fight more; in fact, this agreement is a product of the relentless struggle of ASUU over the years. Left to the government, it would have watched the complete collapse of public education.

    “Importantly, we believe that the demands of SSANU and NASU must equally be met in full. However, we urge that unions in the education sector, including student unions, wage a united and resolute struggle to force government to begin the process of uplifting the education sector from its present ruin. This can only be done by properly funding the education sector and democratising the decision-making process of institutions to include the active participation of students and staff members through their independent unions.”

    National President of Association for Formidable Educational Development Orji Kanu Emmanuel told The Nation that he was concerned about the systemic challenges the government is allowing to fester.

    According to him, successive administrations’ neglect had significantly hindered progress, adding that it’s disheartening to see crucial issues linger unresolved.

    Emmanuel asserted that the unfulfilled agreements between the Federal Government and university workers since 2009 are a stark example of this trend.

    “Over 15 years of waiting for salary increments, earned allowances, and other entitlements is not just unacceptable – it’s detrimental to the very fabric of our education system.

    “As AFED’s leader, I align with NASU and SSANU’s request for the Federal Government to conclude the pending agreements. Quality education is key to Nigeria’s future, and resolving these issues is crucial to unlocking the potential of our institutions and, by extension, our nation. I appeal to the government to address NASU and SSANU’s concerns with the same urgency they’ve approached ASUU’s negotiations. This would avert pending strike actions, demonstrate commitment to education, and show that the government values the welfare of all education stakeholders.

    “I commend the current administration’s efforts to reform and prioritise education, but let’s be honest – the inherited challenges are substantial. With the strong will demonstrated by the team of ministers in charge of education, I remain hopeful that we’ll see tangible progress. Our education system deserves better, and our future depends on it,” he said.

  • NASU decries exclusion of members from harmonised Retirement Age Act

    NASU decries exclusion of members from harmonised Retirement Age Act

    The General Secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Prince Peters Adeyemi, has faulted the exclusion of non-teaching workers from the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act 2022.

    The NASU leader noted that while the Act represented progress, its exclusion of non-teaching workers showed deeper systemic inequities that continued to weaken Nigeria’s education sector.

    In an article titled: “Rethinking Equity in Nigeria’s Education Policy: The Neglect of Basic and Post-Basic Education Workers,” Adeyemi said teachers alone cannot drive learning outcomes.

    Every school relies on a network of support staff whose contributions are indispensable, the NASU leader said.

    He added: “This disparity is most evident in the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act (2022), which raised the retirement age for teachers but excluded non-teaching staff, who are equally essential to effective education delivery.

    “Such policy choices contradict the constitutional commitment to educational equality and violate Nigeria’s obligations under several international conventions that promote fair labour practices and inclusive education systems.

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    “The Harmonised Retirement Age Act must be adopted by all states to ensure consistency. Disparities undermine national planning and labour fairness.”

    “Future amendments by states that have already domesticated the law and domestication by states that are yet to do so, should extend retirement age benefits to non-teaching staff in line with Nigeria’s obligations under ILO and UNESCO frameworks.”

    According to him, for Nigeria to truly realise its constitutional promise under Section 18 and fulfil its commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, government must adopt an inclusive and equitable approach to education workforce policy.

    “Extending welfare protections to all categories of education workers is essential for building a functional, just and high-quality education system capable of supporting sustainable national development,” Adeyemi said.

    The union leader urged the government to develop integrated welfare systems and address housing, healthcare, workplace safety, and professional development for all education workers.

    Adeyemi also said government policies should be driven by constitutional mandates and international obligations, not solely by industrial action or union pressure.

    The NASU general secretary stressed that improving the resources and transparency of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and State Basic Education Boards was essential for ensuring a strong foundation for national learning outcomes.

  • NASU urges Fed govt to respect agreements with varsity unions

    NASU urges Fed govt to respect agreements with varsity unions

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has asked the federal government to respect agreements with university-based unions and stop threatening them with a no-work, no-pay policy.

    The union described the federal government’s recurring threats to invoke the “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking workers as unjust and contrary to labour laws.

    In a statement titled, “Recurring Threats by Government Officials to Enforce the ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy: A Call for Justice, Collective Bargaining, and Dignity of Labour,” NASU’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, accused government officials of using the provision in Section 42(1)(a) of the Trade Disputes Act as a weapon of intimidation rather than a tool for industrial peace.

    Adeyemi noted that strikes were not acts of rebellion, but a lawful last resort when the government failed to honour agreements with workers.

    He said, “Union leaders are not anarchists or agitators for chaos. Strikes are often the inevitable response to the government’s dereliction of duty and failure to uphold the sanctity of labour laws.”

    Adeyemi noted that while the law provides that no wages be paid during a strike, other sections of the same Act outline procedures for mediation and arbitration, which he said the government often ignores.

    The NASU GS cited Section 15 of the Labour Act mandating the timely payment of wages, saying withholding salaries violates the same law officials seek to enforce.

    Read Also: SSANU, NASU issue strike notice over unmet demands

    He accused the federal government of double standards, saying, “The selective enforcement of ‘No Work, No Pay’ while ignoring ‘No Pay, No Work’ is hypocritical, unjust and contrary to the principles of equity upon which industrial relations are built.”

    The NASU scribe also drew attention to international labour standards, noting that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) recognises the right to strike under Conventions 87 and 98, both ratified by Nigeria. He said punishing unions for lawful strikes violates those conventions.

    While stating that Nigerian workers remain patriotic despite poor pay and difficult working conditions, Adeyemi said, “It is hypocrisy for the government to provoke strikes through broken promises and later punish the victims of its own failure.”

    He urged the government to institutionalise collective bargaining in the public sector and respect agreements reached with unions, even as he noted that lasting industrial peace could only be achieved through dialogue, trust, and adherence to both national and international labour standards.

  • SSANU, NASU issue strike notice over unmet demands

    SSANU, NASU issue strike notice over unmet demands

    The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a seven-day strike notice to the Federal Government over outstanding demands.

    The unions threatened to go on strike at the end of the ultimatum, which started on September 15.

    The JAC gave the notice in a joint statement by its Chairman, Mohammed Ibrahim, who doubles as SSANU President, and the union’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, in Abuja.

    The unions alleged that efforts to address the outstanding demands with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, have not yielded any positive results.

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    The unions listed some of the issues as “unjust” disbursement of N50 billion earned allowances; non-payment of outstanding withheld salaries and 25/35 per cent salary increments; and renegotiation of 2009 FGN and NASU/SSANU agreements.

    The statement said: “The minister would recall that at the July 4, 2025 meeting to address the afore-stated issues, there was a resolution to the effect that a Tripartite Committee comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC) and JAC of NASU and SSANU would be constituted to resolve the impasse which had arisen due to the skewed distribution of the N50 billion Earned Allowances in which our members in the universities were shortchanged, while those in the Inter-University Centres were completely shut out of the distribution.

  • SSANU, NASU protest unjust distribution of N50bn earned allowances

    SSANU, NASU protest unjust distribution of N50bn earned allowances

    The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) on Sunday condemned the recent distribution formula for the N50 billion earned allowance approved by the federal government for university-based unions.

    The unions expressed their displeasure in the sharing formula in a jointly signed statement by the President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, and the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi on Sunday in Abuja.

    The federal government last month approved the release of N50bn to universities as earned allowances.

    The N50bn is to be shared between the Academic Staff Union of Universities; NASU, SSANU and National Association of Academic Technologists.

    The statement said, “We wish to make it clear that this is not a contest of supremacy among unions. Rather, it is about fairness, recognition, and the equitable treatment of all workers who form the backbone of the Nigerian University system.”

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    The unions further demanded a review and reversal of the allocation formula, which they describe as “grossly unfair” and “totally unacceptable.”

    The unions argued that the distribution was capable of creating industrial disharmony and accentuating the teaching/non-teaching dichotomy in Nigerian universities.

    The unions vowed to stand united in demanding justice, fairness, and recognition of their rightful place in the university community.

    They warned that going ahead with the unfair distribution will breed resentment and trigger widespread industrial disharmony.

    “Non-Teaching staff of Nigerian Universities are not second-class citizens but are critical stakeholders who contribute immensely to the day-to-day functionality, administrative efficiency, research excellence, technical operations, and overall development of the Nigerian Universities system.

    “A harmonious and productive academic environment can only be achieved when all stakeholders are treated with respect, dignity, equity, and fairness,” the statement added.

  • Unpaid union dues: NASU begins strike, grounds activities at Fed Poly Ekowe

    Unpaid union dues: NASU begins strike, grounds activities at Fed Poly Ekowe

    The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State, has embarked on strike over the suspension of check-off dues deduction for members of the union by the Rector of the institution, Dr. Agbabiaka Adegoke, from January to March 2025.

    The leaders of the union, who thronged the campus of the institution to prevent fellow members from rendering services, also staged a peaceful protest to compel members not to allow themselves to be cajoled by the management of the institution and force the NASU branch to negotiate with them to resolve the issues.

    The ongoing strike by the NASU at the institution has heightened tensions between the union members and the institution’s management.

    The rector’s directive to halt the deduction of check-off dues has sparked the strike as the union believed that the dues deduction was crucial for financing union activities and bolstering its operations.

    Union leaders have insisted that discussions should occur at the branch level but the management proposed that negotiations should be held with the national executive regarding an unsigned Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja.

    Despite interventions from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the rector has reportedly maintained a firm stance against reversing the suspension of union dues deductions.

    It was gathered that union leaders rallied at the campus to prevent members from providing services, emphasising solidarity and resistance against management’s pressure.

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    In a communication dated February 6, 2025, the national leadership of NASU, represented by General Secretary Prince Peter Adeyemi, urged management to reinstate the deduction of check-off dues to avoid potential legal consequences.

    The branch chairman, Comrade Etebu Ebiyife, alleged the misuse of union members’ dues for security and labour services by the rector, stressing that those services were officially outsourced by the Federal Government since 2012.

    He said the conflict between NASU and the management of the Federal Polytechnic of Ekowe underscored broader issues related to labour rights, management transparency, and the importance of adherence to negotiated agreements.

    Ebiyife said that continued negotiations and effective communication were essential to resolving these issues and preventing further disruptions in services at the institution.

    He mentioned that the situation called for monitoring, as decisions made during this strike could have lasting impacts on the relationship between staff unions and academic institutions in Nigeria.

    Ebiyife stated: “He is using our members who are federal government staff to do contract work, while N5 million is given to the institution by the Bayelsa State government every month as subvention as their contribution.

    “Our national secretariat wrote to inform the rector that the suspension of the deduction of check-off dues for our members is illegal.

    “Instead, he rather called the branch leadership to a management meeting asking us to resolve issues within ourselves, and that by the end of April 2025, he will lift the suspension of check-off dues. If he pays April dues without going to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to sign the MOU, he is indicting himself.

    “He is also claiming that 42 persons who are ASUP members not NASU members wrote to him personally that they want to withdraw their membership from the union, and that that was the reason he suspended the remittance of our check-off dues without calling the unions to resolve the issue.

    “The Federal ministry of Labour and Employment told him that the proper thing for any member who wishes to withdraw his membership is to write to the union and not the management of the institution. That is the constitutional thing to do, yet he went ahead to suspend the deduction of our check-off dues.

    “What we know is that the national has given a directive that we should embark on this strike until he goes to Abuja and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, NASU and SSANIP and Rector of the institution before the strike will be called off.”

    A management official, who pleaded anonymity, said the decision to suspend the deduction of members’ check-off dues of the union was taken because management felt it was wrong for the union to forcefully collect dues from people who have voluntarily decided to pull out of the union.

    He also said: “When the matter raised concerns, the unions met with management, and it was resolved that by the end of April 2025, the suspension will be lifted, both ASUP and SSANIP accepted the bargain but that NASU rejected the offer on some grounds that were not comfortable for them to handle in-house.

    “If management has said they will commence payment from April based on your agitations, we can do well to understand and watch how it would be implemented before further issues can be raised. But NASU rejected the offer on the grounds that the Abuja MoU supersedes that of the one the management wants the Union to enter into with them.”

  • NASU begins strike, grounds activities at Fed Poly Ekowe

    NASU begins strike, grounds activities at Fed Poly Ekowe

    The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State, has embarked on strike over the suspension of check-off dues deduction for members of the union by the Rector of the institution, Dr. Agbabiaka Adegoke, from January to March 2025.

    The leaders of the union, who thronged the campus of the institution to prevent fellow members from rendering services, also staged a peaceful protest to compel members not to allow themselves to be cajoled by the management of the institution and force the NASU branch to negotiate with them to resolve the issues.

    The ongoing strike by the NASU at the institution has heightened tensions between the union members and the institution’s management.

    The Rector’s directive to halt the deduction of check-off dues has sparked the strike as the union believed that the dues deduction was crucial for financing union activities and bolstering its operations.

    Union leaders have insisted that discussions should occur at the branch level but the management proposed that negotiations should be held with the national executive regarding an unsigned Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja.

    Despite interventions from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the rector has reportedly maintained a firm stance against reversing the suspension of union dues deductions.

    It was gathered that union leaders rallied at the campus to prevent members from providing services, emphasising solidarity and resistance against management’s pressure.

    Read Also: NASU warns against selective disbursement of N50b earned allowance

    In a communication dated February 6, 2025, the national leadership of NASU, represented by General Secretary Prince Peter Adeyemi, the union urged management to reinstate the deduction of check-off dues to avoid potential legal consequences.

    The branch chairman, Comrade Etebu Ebiyife,  alleged the misuse of union members dues for security and labour services by the rector, stressing that those services were officially outsourced by the Federal Government since 2012.

    He said the conflict between NASU and the management of the Federal Polytechnic of Ekowe underscored broader issues related to labour rights, management transparency, and the importance of adherence to negotiated agreements.

    Ebiyife said that continued negotiations and effective communication were essential to resolving these issues and preventing further disruptions in services at the institution. 

    He mentioned that the situation called for monitoring, as decisions made during this strike could have lasting impacts on the relationship between staff unions and academic institutions in Nigeria.

  • NASU warns against selective disbursement of N50b earned allowance

    NASU warns against selective disbursement of N50b earned allowance

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has warned the Federal Government that any attempt to disburse the promised N50 billion earned allowance exclusively to academic unions will provoke industrial unrest across Nigeria’s universities.

    Speaking during a two-day Universities and Inter-University Centres Trade Group Council Meeting in Abuja, the Union’s General Secretary, Peter Adeyemi, accused the government of breaching a 2022 agreement that promised equitable disbursement of the allowance to both academic and non-teaching staff unions.

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    “We have seen a disturbing pattern. When it comes to sharing earned allowances, the government allocates 70 per cent to academic staff, leaving just 30 per cent for the three non-teaching staff unions. We protested this injustice in the past, and it partly triggered our strike in 2022,” Adeyemi said.

    He recalled that during the 2022 strike, the union was invited to a meeting chaired by then Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, where a resolution was reached and signed, committing the Federal Government to a N50 billion earned allowance payment for both teaching and non-teaching staff.

  • NASU warns against selective disbursement of N50bn earned allowance

    NASU warns against selective disbursement of N50bn earned allowance

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has warned the federal government that any attempt to disburse the promised N50 billion earned allowance exclusively to academic unions will provoke industrial unrest across Nigeria’s universities.

    Speaking during the two-day Universities and Inter-University Centres Trade Group Council Meeting in Abuja, the union’s General Secretary, Peter Adeyemi, accused the government of breaching a 2022 agreement that promised equitable disbursement of the allowance to both academic and non-teaching staff unions.

    “We have seen a disturbing pattern. When it comes to sharing earned allowances, the government allocates 70 per cent to academic staff, leaving just 30 per cent for the three non-teaching staff unions. We protested this injustice in the past, and it partly triggered our strike in 2022,” said Prince Adeyemi.

    He recalled that during the 2022 strike, the union was invited to a meeting chaired by then Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, where a resolution was reached and signed, committing the Federal Government to a N50 billion earned allowance payment for both teaching and non-teaching staff.

    “That agreement remains binding. Government is a continuum. We were shocked to see a circular recently indicating a meeting held with only one union, ASUU, which was described as a ‘stakeholders’ meeting’. Excluding three unions out of four does not qualify as stakeholder engagement,” he said.

    Read Also: NASU, SSANU to call off strike tomorrow

    Adeyemi warned that such selective consultation signals a move to divert the funds solely to ASUU: “If the N50 billion is paid only to one union, the government will have itself to blame for any resulting industrial crisis,” he cautioned, calling on President Bola Tinubu and the current Minister of Education to act swiftly.

    “We commend the President for his efforts to maintain peace in the education sector, but desperation to appease one union must not plunge the system into chaos,” he added.

    He also reiterated NASU’s support for the transition from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), but insisted that all outstanding liabilities must be carried over.

    “IPPIS has failed to migrate both assets and liabilities. This is unacceptable,” he stressed.

    On administrative matters, Adeyemi criticised the unlawful suspension of union dues in some institutions, citing the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, as an example.

    “No rector, vice-chancellor or provost has the legal authority to halt union dues. It is a statutory right under Nigerian labour laws,” he said.

    NASU’s President, Dr Hassan Makolo, also criticised the Federal Government for failing to settle outstanding arrears, the poor implementation of IPPIS, and the prolonged delay in renegotiating the 2009 agreement.

    “The continuous non-payment of third-party deductions, withheld promotions, and ignored union dues is a betrayal of trust,” he asserted.

    Dr Makolo accused the government of attempting to punish unions for opposing IPPIS and warned of stiff resistance if such actions continue.

    He expressed frustration over NASU’s exclusion from discussions on earned allowances and described the lack of progress in renegotiating the 2009 agreement since December 2024 as a “clear display of bad faith,” adding that, “Enough is enough. Government must demonstrate sincerity and urgency.”

    The Lagos State Chairman of NASU, Timothy Olawore, lamented the perennial challenges besetting Nigeria’s education sector, including poor funding, decaying infrastructure, and brain drain.

    “These issues not only diminish the quality of education but also affect the welfare of our members,” he said, urging union members to “share experiences and provide lasting solutions to reposition this vital sector.”

    The Chairman of the Trade Group Council and Deputy President of NASU, Buhari Suleiman, decried the worsening state of the nation across key sectors from education to security and the economy.

    He also criticised the Federal Government’s 2025 education budget of 9.2 per cent as grossly inadequate, describing it as a “clear disregard for global standards.”

    “Our slide to sixth place on the Global Terrorism Index is a shameful failure of leadership,” he said, adding that corruption and youth unemployment were crippling the nation’s development.

    “No nation develops when its future, the youth is neglected,” Suleiman warned, calling for sweeping reforms and a responsive government that serves the people.”

  • JUST IN: NASU issues seven-day strike ultimatum to WAEC

    JUST IN: NASU issues seven-day strike ultimatum to WAEC

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has given the management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) a seven-day ultimatum to address its four-point demand regarding workers’ welfare and the alleged victimisation of labour leaders.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday, NASU general secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, warned that failure to meet their demands would result in a nationwide shutdown of all WAEC offices starting Monday, March 24.

    Read Also: Aiyedatiwa pays N634m WAEC fees for 23,048 students

    “If the management does not take immediate action, all WAEC offices across the country will be shut down indefinitely,” Adeyemi declared.

    The union insisted that its grievances must be urgently addressed to protect the rights and well-being of its members.