The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government, warning of a “total and comprehensive” shutdown across all public universities starting in 2026 if long-standing grievances are not addressed by 31 December 2025.
The resolution was reached at the end of SSANU’s 53rd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Jos, Plateau State.
In a communiqué issued on Sunday, the union demanded the immediate release of four months’ withheld salaries (totalling approximately ₦50 billion) owed to its members, an end to what it described as “continued marginalisation” of non-teaching staff, and the inclusion of non-academic unions in the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the government.
SSANU lso condemned the rising wave of insecurity on campuses, citing recent abductions of students in Niger and Kebbi states, and rejected proposed public-private partnerships (PPPs) for university services, warning that such arrangements could lead to widespread casualisation of jobs without labour protections.
The union’s National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, described the planned action as a “last resort” after years of unfulfilled promises by successive administrations.
If the government fails to meet the December 31 deadline, SSANU says it will mobilise its members alongside sister unions NASU and NAAT for an indefinite shutdown of university administrative and technical services nationwide.
The threat comes barely two months after non-teaching staff ended a week-long warning strike in October 2025 over similar issues.
Neither the Ministry of Education nor the Office of the Head of Service has issued an official response to the latest ultimatum as of press time.
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
