The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Personnel Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Personnel Union has called for the immediate withdrawal of a letter supposedly authorizing a 30 percent salary increase for non-teaching personnel, cautioning that failure to do so could activate a nationwide closure of public universities.
In a letter dealt with to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the unions explained the advancement as disturbing and undesirable.
The correspondence, collectively signed by JAC Secretary-General, Prince Peters Adeyemi, and NASU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, mentioned that the document circulating on social networks, supposedly backed by the minister, had actually developed confusion among workers.
According to the unions, the reported income change did not emerge from the ongoing settlements between the Federal Government and university-based unions.
They insisted that conversations were still in development and no final contract had been reached that would justify the announcement of any pay boost.
The committee noted that income matters ought to be solved through cumulative bargaining, stressing that they would reject any unilateral choice taken outside the concurred settlement structure.
SSANU and NASU preserved that they would just accept terms collectively authorized by all celebrations involved in the talks.
Settlements in between the unions and the Federal Government are currently being handled by a committee led by Dr Yayale Ahmed.
The employees also urged the minister to withdraw the distributing letter instantly to prevent more uncertainty within the university system.
Reaffirming an earlier ultimatum provided on March 27, the unions reminded the government that it had until April 30, 2026, to conclude discussions on the remaining 2009 contract.
They cautioned that any delay beyond the deadline might interfere with industrial harmony across universities and inter-university centres from Might 1, 2026.
The current disagreement adds to a long history of disputes between tertiary organization unions and the Federal government over well-being plans and unsettled agreements.
Although attention frequently centres on scholastic unions, SSANU and NASU have actually consistently complained of being sidelined in matters relating to income reviews and earned allowances.
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Observers state unilateral announcements, whether official or perceived, often heighten labour stress because they damage self-confidence in the negotiation procedure.
With Nigerian universities already facing funding difficulties, staff migration, and duplicated disturbances, another strike could even more destabilise the sector and affect countless students.
Meanwhile, the Federal government had earlier approved a 30 percent boost in the consolidated salary structure of non-academic employees in federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
In a letter dated March 30, 2026, and signed by Dr Alausa, the increase was described as a Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance.
The regulation was sent to the National Universities Commission, National Board for Technical Education, and National Commission for Colleges of Education.
The minister stated the choice showed the administration’s dedication to enhancing the well-being and efficiency of non-teaching workers who supply important administrative and technical support in tertiary organizations.