Activities have been grounded at the University of Ilorin following the commencement of an indefinite strike by members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.
The PUNCH reports that the unions staged a peaceful protest at the main gate of the university on Monday, 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, UNILORIN chapter, Prof. 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.
“Today’s congress is basically on the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, although we have pending issues which have lingered even before 2009. But the 2009 agreement has been the major issue, especially among the non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities.”
“If you flash back, you will remember we have been very patient and patriotic. We have always said non-teaching staff do not love to go on strike unless pushed to the wall. In March 2026, SSANU held its National Executive Council meeting at Ekiti State University and gave the Federal Government an ultimatum of May 1, 2026.”
“We expected the government to act before the expiration of that ultimatum, but to the surprise of well-meaning Nigerians, nothing was done. Today is May 4, and they are still calling for meetings to reconcile.”
Olushola stressed that the unions are demanding the conclusion, signing, and full implementation of the 2009 agreement, alongside a 45 per cent salary increment.
“Basically, today our demand is the conclusion, signing and implementation of the 2009 agreement. 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.”
“If they want to give us anything less, let them present it clearly, but we do not want anything below 45%. This is not a warning strike. We have issued multiple ultimatums since December 2025 and March 2026, and nothing has been done.”
He added 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, UNILORIN chapter, Suberu Ibrahim, said the protest was part of a long-standing agitation dating back several years.
“We have gathered here this morning to show our displeasure to the government. 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.”
“This renegotiation has been ongoing since 2017, yet the government has not concluded the non-teaching staff component.”
“Just this January, teaching staff in Nigerian universities were given about 40% increase in their allowances and salaries, leaving non-teaching staff out. We are demanding that our negotiations be concluded and that the same benefits be extended to us.”
He decried what he described as the marginalisation 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?”
“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-month salary backlogs dating back to 2022.
“We have other issues. One full year arrears has not been paid, and two months’ arrears from 2022 are still pending. All these must be addressed. That is why we decided to take our destiny into our hands.”
“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.”
The Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU had earlier declared a total and comprehensive indefinite strike, which commenced at midnight on May 1, 2026, following the expiration of an April 30 ultimatum issued to the Federal Government.
A last-minute meeting between union leaders and government representatives on April 29 reportedly ended in a deadlock, with no agreement reached on key issues, including salary adjustments and the renegotiation framework.
The strike action affects all 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.
