Ilorin Varsity Grounded as SSANU, NASU Begin Indefinite Strike

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

Academic and administrative activities at the University of Ilorin came to a halt on Monday as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) began an indefinite strike.

This industrial action follows a directive from the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which declared a total and comprehensive walkout effective midnight, May 1, 2026, Persecondnews reports.

The Federal Government failed to meet the unions’ demands before the expiration of their April 30 ultimatum.

The unions staged a peaceful protest at the university’s main gate, displaying placards with inscriptions such as “We demand fair treatment and living wages,” “Pay withheld salaries now,” and “45% increment is our demand, not 30%,” while enforcing compliance with the industrial action.

Chairman of SSANU, UniIlorin chapter, Falowo Olushola, said the strike was necessitated by the Federal Government’s failure to conclude the renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 agreement with non-teaching staff unions.

“We reject the 30% that was proposed to us outrightly. All staff in federal universities have rejected it. Our demand is 45% and that is final. Basically, today our demand is the conclusion, signing and implementation of the 2009 agreement,” he said.

“This is not a warning strike. We have issued multiple ultimatums since December 2025 and March 2026 and nothing has been done. If they want to give us anything less, let them present it clearly, but we do not want anything below 45%.”

He noted that non-teaching staff play critical roles in the university system, ranging from security and ICT to finance and logistics, insisting their contributions must be fairly rewarded.

Also speaking, Chairman of NASU, Suberu Ibrahim, said the protest was part of a long-standing agitation dating back several years.

“You will recall that in 2022, when we were to go on a protracted strike, the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement was part of our demands. We have gathered here this morning to show our displeasure to the government,” he said.

“This renegotiation has been ongoing since 2017, yet the government has not concluded the non-teaching staff component.”

He further decried the marginalization of non-teaching staff despite their central role in university administration and operations.

“The university system stands on three pillars: professional, academic, and administrative. The administrative and professional components are handled by non-teaching staff. Why should one segment be sidelined?” he asked.

“We also insist that whatever increment is approved should take effect from January, just like that of the academic staff, and the agreement must be signed.”

Ibrahim further highlighted outstanding arrears owed to members, including one year and two months’ salary backlogs dating back to 2022.

“We have taken our destiny into our hands. One full year arrears has not been paid, and two months’ arrears from 2022 are still pending. All these must be addressed,” he said.

“It is a comprehensive, indefinite strike, not a warning. We have issued warnings over the past two months, and nothing was done. Now, all non-teaching staff have withdrawn their services.”

On the impact of the strike, he said the withdrawal of services would significantly disrupt campus operations.

“The implication is that we want to show the government that it is not only academics that run the university. Students are trekking because transport services are not available.
Ilorin Varsity Grounded as SSANU, NASU Begin Indefinite Strike

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

Academic and administrative activities at the University of Ilorin came to a halt on Monday as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) began an indefinite strike.

This industrial action follows a directive from the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which declared a total and comprehensive walkout effective midnight, May 1, 2026, Persecondnews reports.

The Federal Government failed to meet the unions’ demands before the expiration of their April 30 ultimatum.

The unions staged a peaceful protest at the university’s main gate, displaying placards with inscriptions such as “We demand fair treatment and living wages,” “Pay withheld salaries now,” and “45% increment is our demand, not 30%,” while enforcing compliance with the industrial action.

Chairman of SSANU, UniIlorin chapter, Falowo Olushola, said the strike was necessitated by the Federal Government’s failure to conclude the renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 agreement with non-teaching staff unions.

“We reject the 30% that was proposed to us outrightly. All staff in federal universities have rejected it. Our demand is 45% and that is final. Basically, today our demand is the conclusion, signing and implementation of the 2009 agreement,” he said.

“This is not a warning strike. We have issued multiple ultimatums since December 2025 and March 2026 and nothing has been done. If they want to give us anything less, let them present it clearly, but we do not want anything below 45%.”

He noted that non-teaching staff play critical roles in the university system, ranging from security and ICT to finance and logistics, insisting their contributions must be fairly rewarded.

Also speaking, Chairman of NASU, Suberu Ibrahim, said the protest was part of a long-standing agitation dating back several years.

“You will recall that in 2022, when we were to go on a protracted strike, the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement was part of our demands. We have gathered here this morning to show our displeasure to the government,” he said.

“This renegotiation has been ongoing since 2017, yet the government has not concluded the non-teaching staff component.”

He further decried the marginalization of non-teaching staff despite their central role in university administration and operations.

“The university system stands on three pillars: professional, academic, and administrative. The administrative and professional components are handled by non-teaching staff. Why should one segment be sidelined?” he asked.

“We also insist that whatever increment is approved should take effect from January, just like that of the academic staff, and the agreement must be signed.”

Ibrahim further highlighted outstanding arrears owed to members, including one year and two months’ salary backlogs dating back to 2022.

“We have taken our destiny into our hands. One full year arrears has not been paid, and two months’ arrears from 2022 are still pending. All these must be addressed,” he said.

“It is a comprehensive, indefinite strike, not a warning. We have issued warnings over the past two months, and nothing was done. Now, all non-teaching staff have withdrawn their services.”

On the impact of the strike, he said the withdrawal of services would significantly disrupt campus operations.

“The implication is that we want to show the government that it is not only academics that run the university. Students are trekking because transport services are not available.

“They cannot get vehicles because our members are responsible for driving. They should feel the impact so that the government can act promptly.

“We have children in these institutions, and we do not want them to suffer, but the government must do the needful.”

A meeting between union leaders and government representatives on April 29 ended in a deadlock, with no agreement reached on key issues, including salary adjustments and the renegotiation framework.

The strike affects federal and state universities, as well as inter-university centres across the country, with monitoring teams deployed to ensure full compliance.

Despite indications of renewed talks scheduled for Monday, the unions insist that the industrial action will continue until their demands are fully met, warning that only concrete agreements not promises will lead to its suspension.

“They cannot get vehicles because our members are responsible for driving. They should feel the impact so that the government can act promptly.

“We have children in these institutions, and we do not want them to suffer, but the government must do the needful.”

A meeting between union leaders and government representatives on April 29 ended in a deadlock, with no agreement reached on key issues, including salary adjustments and the renegotiation framework.

The strike affects federal and state universities, as well as inter-university centres across the country, with monitoring teams deployed to ensure full compliance.

Despite indications of renewed talks scheduled for Monday, the unions insist that the industrial action will continue until their demands are fully met, warning that only concrete agreements not promises will lead to its suspension.