University Workers Set for Nationwide Protest Over Unpaid Salaries, Allowances

University non-academic staff across Nigeria are set to embark on a nationwide protest on Thursday, October 9, 2025, to demand the payment of outstanding salaries, allowances, and other entitlements.

The planned action is being coordinated under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

In preparation for the protest, both unions have directed their branches nationwide to hold emergency meetings on Wednesday, October 8, to mobilize members for the mass action. Planned activities include campus marches, placard demonstrations, and press briefings across universities and inter-university centres.

According to the unions, the protest follows the Federal Government’s failure to meet several long-standing demands, despite multiple ultimatums and negotiation meetings.

Key issues raised include:

• Alleged unfair sharing of the ?50 billion earned allowances recently approved by the government.
• Delays in renegotiating the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreements.
• Non-payment of two months’ outstanding salaries.
• Unpaid arrears arising from the 25% and 35% salary increments.
• Failure to remit third-party deductions for May and June 2022.

The JAC had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on September 15, which was later extended by 14 days. The final extension expired on Monday, October 6, without any progress.

In a circular titled “Commencement of Protest Actions” and jointly signed by NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi and SSANU National President Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions accused the government of insincerity and neglect.

“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 Friday, September 19, 2025, and Monday, October 6, 2025 — with little progress. Our demands remain unresolved despite the extension of the ultimatum,” the circular stated.

It added that:

“The National JAC hereby directs branch leadership in universities and inter-university centres throughout the country to convene a joint congress on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, to mobilize for a massive and effective one-day protest on Thursday, October 9, 2025. All members of NASU and SSANU in both federal and state universities are expected to strictly comply.”

The unions emphasized that full participation and unity are essential to the success of their campaign for justice and fairness in the university system.