Organised labour has urged the Federal Government to urgently resolve the issues facing non-teaching staff in Nigerian tertiary institutions in order to avert a looming nationwide strike. The call was made by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in a statement issued to mark the 2026 May Day celebration on Friday in Abuja.
The two unions demanded immediate government intervention to prevent the escalation of industrial tensions within the education sector. The theme for the 2026 May Day celebration was “Insecurity, Poverty: Bane of Decent Work.”
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) had announced plans to begin an indefinite strike starting on Friday, following unresolved demands with the government.
TUC President Mr. Festus Osifo expressed concern over the failure to resolve long-standing agreements and demands from NASU and SSANU, warning that delays could lead to major disruptions in academic activities at public universities across the country.
“We are concerned that these unresolved issues have dragged on for too long without any concrete resolution. The government must act now to avoid a breakdown in industrial harmony within the university system,” Osifo said.
He emphasized that continued delays in addressing these issues could severely destabilize the academic environment, urging the government to engage with the unions immediately to prevent an escalation of the crisis.
Osifo also called for swift renegotiation and resolution of pending salary arrears and allowances, underscoring that ensuring industrial peace within the education sector was vital for national stability and development.
“The withholding of salaries and delayed payment of arrears are unjust and could escalate tensions within the university system if not urgently addressed,” he stated. “We urge the Federal Government to correct anomalies in the payment of earned allowances and ensure fair treatment for all categories of university workers without further delay.”
He warned that failure to act quickly on the demands of non-teaching staff unions could lead to avoidable industrial action across federal universities, causing serious disruptions to academic calendars and affecting students’ education.
Similarly, NLC President Mr. Joe Ajaero emphasized the crucial role non-teaching staff play in the effective functioning of universities and their right to improved welfare and timely resolution of outstanding disputes. He lamented that repeated breakdowns in negotiations had undermined stability within the tertiary education sector.
“These continuous breakdowns in negotiations are harming the stability of our university system,” Ajaero said, urging the government to show sincerity, commitment, and accountability in negotiations. “We urge all parties to return to the negotiation table in good faith to prevent further disruptions to academic and administrative activities in public universities.”
Ajaero reaffirmed the Organised Labour’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights while maintaining industrial peace. However, he warned that authorities handling labour matters should not take the unions’ patience for granted.
