AFUED SSANU, NASU Vow Peaceful Protest Over Unresolved Welfare Issues

Joint Action Committee Accuses Federal Government of Neglect, Demands Payment of Earned Allowances, Arrears, and Implementation of 2009 Agreement

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED), Ondo City chapter, has resolved to embark on a peaceful protest following the Federal Government’s continued failure to address lingering welfare issues affecting non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities.

The resolution was taken during a special congress held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium of the institution. The congress, which witnessed a large turnout of members from both unions, was convened in line with a national directive issued by the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU, dated October 6, 2025.

The circular, jointly signed by the National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim, and the General Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters A. Adeyemi, urged all branches nationwide to mobilize for a one-day peaceful protest slated for Thursday, October 9, 2025.

Addressing members at the AFUED congress, the SSANU Branch Chairman, Comrade Joseph Obamoyegun, said the decision followed the Federal Government’s failure to implement critical aspects of past agreements and to meet the unions’ welfare demands, despite repeated appeals and deadline extensions.

“Our members have been patient enough,” Obamoyegun said. “We gave the government an initial seven-day ultimatum, followed by a 14-day extension, yet none of the pending issues have been resolved. We are left with no choice but to mobilize for a peaceful protest to demand justice for non-teaching staff across Nigerian universities.”

He identified some of the key grievances to include the unjust disbursement of ₦50 billion Earned Allowances, delay in the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreement, non-payment of two months’ outstanding salaries, non-payment of 25% and 30% salary arrears, and failure to remit third-party deductions for May and June 2022.

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Obamoyegun further referenced the recent inauguration of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, aimed at addressing university staff welfare. He noted that members of the committee had met with the Minister on two occasions, September 19 and October 6, 2025, but both meetings ended without meaningful outcomes.

“We attended the meetings with optimism, but unfortunately, there was no tangible progress,” he lamented. “This shows the government’s insensitivity to the plight of non-teaching staff who contribute significantly to the running of universities across the country.”

The union leader explained that the planned protest would feature several peaceful activities including prayer sessions, campus rallies, display of placards highlighting workers’ demands, and press briefings. He emphasized that the protest would be conducted in a disciplined and non-violent manner.

“We are law-abiding citizens. Our protest will be peaceful, and our message will be clear, we want fairness, justice, and respect for agreements duly signed with our unions,” he said.

Also speaking at the congress, the NASU AFUED Branch Chairman, Comrade Obadofin C. J., commended members for their resilience and urged them to remain united in their collective pursuit of better welfare. He reaffirmed NASU’s commitment to the JAC’s joint struggle for improved working conditions and fair treatment.

“The only language the government seems to understand is collective action,” Obadofin said. “Our unity is our strength, and we must continue to speak with one voice until our legitimate demands are met.”

The well-attended congress featured solidarity songs, brief speeches from senior union members, and contributions from rank-and-file staff who expressed frustration over the prolonged neglect of non-academic workers. Many participants called on the Federal Government to address the unions’ grievances urgently to avoid industrial disruptions in the university system.

According to the national circular, the one-day peaceful protest will take place simultaneously in all federal and state-owned universities, as well as inter-university centres across Nigeria, on Thursday, October 9, 2025.

The unions reiterated that their demands were not new but based on long-standing agreements and welfare entitlements that had been ignored for years. They maintained that the protest was not politically motivated but aimed at compelling the government to fulfil its obligations to non-teaching university staff.

“We have exhausted dialogue and patience,” Obamoyegun concluded. “Our demand is simple, the Federal Government should honour its promises and respect the labour agreements that ensure fairness and motivation in the university system.”

By: Comrade Dr. Akinola, Emmanuel Taiwo, FITD, FCILG, and Comrade Daramola, Abayomi Richard, AFUED JAC Correspondent, Ondo
October 8, 2025