Abuja, Nigeria — 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 alleged failure to address their long-standing welfare and funding demands.

Acting under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), both unions have directed all branches to hold joint emergency congresses on Wednesday, October 8, to mobilise members for the protest, which will include campus marches, placard displays, and press briefings.

Background and Demands

The decision followed JAC’s meeting on October 6, where members reviewed the government’s response to earlier ultimatums all of which expired without resolution.

Among the unions’ grievances are:

• The alleged unfair disbursement of the ₦50 billion earned allowances;
• Delays in renegotiating the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreements;
• Non-payment of two months’ outstanding salaries;
• Arrears from the 25% and 35% salary increments; and
• Non-remittance of third-party deductions for May and June 2022.

In a circular jointly signed by NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions said the protest would be a massive show of unity and frustration across all federal and state universities.

“Following the inauguration of the Joint Consultative Committee by the Honourable Minister of Education to look into the demands of JAC of NASU & SSANU, the committee met twice on September 19 and October 6, 2025 with little progress,” the statement read.

“In light of this development, the National JAC hereby directs branch leadership in universities and inter-university centres nationwide to convene a joint congress on Wednesday, 8th October 2025, to mobilise for a massive and effective one-day protest on Thursday, 9th October 2025.”

Union Leaders Warn of Escalation

SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, accused the Federal Government of “insincerity,” warning that the unions could resort to a full-scale 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 welfare of non-academic university workers, saying they have been “the worst hit financially, economically, and psychologically.”

Possible University Disruptions

The unions’ action raises the prospect of another disruption to academic and administrative activities in Nigerian universities, following years of industrial unrest involving ASUU, SSANU, and NASU over staff welfare, salary arrears, and university funding.

Observers fear that if Thursday’s protest does not yield results, it could escalate into a prolonged nationwide shutdown of universities.