The Joint Action Committee ( JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has announced plans to suspend the ongoing nationwide strike declared over slow renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the federal government.
The development comes after series of meetings between the unions and the federal government, which appears to be successful.
In a circular sent to chairpersons on Wednesday morning, the union directed its branches to commence processes for the suspension of the strike effective Monday, May 11, 2026.
According to the unions, they had secured a firm commitment from the federal government to conclude all outstanding renegotiations within two weeks of suspending the industrial action.
The circular, jointly signed by NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the breakthrough followed a crucial meeting with the federal government’s Expanded Renegotiation Committee led by a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed.
“The leadership of JAC considered the passionate appeal for the suspension of the ongoing strike action and also extracted a commitment from the FGN Expanded Renegotiation Committee that all renegotiations, including a reviewed offer of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS), shall be concluded in two weeks from the date of the suspension of the strike,” the statement read.
It added that branch leaders had been directed to convene congresses to brief members and ratify the decision.
“Branch leaders are hereby urged to note this appeal and convene congresses to report the above, for a suspension of the strike effective from Monday, 11th May, 2026, while other engagements with relevant stakeholders continue,” the unions said.
The unions also disclosed that part of the ongoing discussions included a controversial 30 per cent salary increase under the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure which had earlier been proposed but later withdrawn by the government.
Daily Intel Newspaper recalls that the Union had in a statement declared strike on May 1, 2026, over the federal government’s delay in concluding the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, which covers salaries, allowances, and general working conditions of non-academic staff in universities and inter-university centres.
