Non teaching staff at federal universities across Nigeria withdrew their services from 1st May, 2026, 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 a comprehensive indefinite strike following the expiration of an April 30 ultimatum issued to the Federal Government.

The industrial action, which commenced at midnight on 1st May, 2026, following the collapse of last minute negotiations with the Federal Government, has since spread across campuses nationwide. [Read: Nigerian University Non Academic Unions Begin Indefinite Strike Action]

At the University of Ilorin, union members staged a peaceful protest at the main gate on Monday, displaying placards with inscriptions including "We demand fair treatment and living wages," "Pay withheld salaries now," and "45% increment is our demand, not 30%." Members of both unions at the University of Jos also marched from the institution's main gate to the Senate Building, chanting solidarity songs and demanding the implementation of previously reached agreements.

The strike follows a meeting between union leaders and Federal Ministry of Education officials that ended in deadlock, with no fresh offer or clear timeline presented for concluding the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement for non teaching staff.

SSANU Chairman at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Falowo Olushola, traced the crisis to years of inaction by the Federal Government.

"This renegotiation has been ongoing since 2017, yet the government has not concluded the non teaching staff component. In March 2026, SSANU held its National Executive Council meeting at Ekiti State University and gave the Federal Government an ultimatum of May 1, 2026. We expected the government to act before the expiration of that ultimatum, but to the surprise of well meaning Nigerians, nothing was done," Olushola stated.

He made clear that the unions rejected a proposed 30% salary increment, insisting on 45%. "Our demand is 45%, and that is final. This is not a warning strike. We have issued multiple ultimatums since December 2025 and March 2026, and nothing has been done," he stressed.

NASU Chairman at the University of Ilorin, Suberu Ibrahim, noted that teaching staff had received a 40% salary increase in January 2026, while non teaching staff were excluded. He also flagged outstanding salary arrears owed to members.

"One full year's arrears have not been paid, and two months' arrears from 2022 are still pending. All these must be addressed," Ibrahim disclosed, adding that transport services and other administrative functions had been suspended, directly affecting students on campus.

The unions maintained that only concrete agreements, not promises, would lead to the suspension of the strike.