Nigeria's Public Tertiary Institutions woke up to fresh disruption on Friday as the Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions commenced an indefinite nationwide strike at midnight on May 1, 2026, following the collapse of last minute negotiations with the Federal Government.

The industrial action took effect after talks between government representatives and union leaders on April 29 ended without any agreement, triggering the expiration of an ultimatum the two unions had earlier issued to the Federal Government.

At the centre of the dispute is the Federal Government's handling of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, which the unions described as having dragged on despite repeated engagements and assurances. The unions also alleged that non academic workers have been treated with less urgency than the Academic Staff Union of Universities during separate negotiations.

A particularly contentious issue is the salary review process. The unions disclosed that the Federal Government withdrew an earlier offer of a 30% salary increase without presenting a replacement proposal acceptable to workers. SSANU and NASU had previously rejected that figure, describing it as inadequate and inconsistent with collective bargaining principles, given the country's worsening economic conditions and rising cost of living.

In a statement announcing the action, the Unions declared the strike "total and comprehensive," directing all members across federal and state Universities, Polytechnics, colleges of education, and inter University centres to withdraw their services with immediate effect.

Administrative operations, student services, laboratory activities, hostel management, and other non academic functions within public tertiary institutions are expected to bear the immediate impact of the action.

To enforce compliance, union leaders announced the deployment of monitoring teams across the country, warning that branches or members found violating the strike directive would face sanctions.

The development has deepened anxiety among students and parents already fatigued by repeated disruptions to Nigeria's education calendar. Education stakeholders have called on both parties to return to the negotiation table promptly to avert a prolonged shutdown.