SSANU Begins Warning Strike, Gives Sokoto Govt Five Days to Meet Demands

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Sokoto State University (SSU) chapter, has commenced a five-working-day warning strike, giving the Sokoto State Government five days to resolve outstanding staff welfare issues or face an indefinite industrial action.

The strike, which began on Monday, November 2, followed the expiration of a 14-working-day ultimatum issued to the government on October 14 over unresolved entitlements.

In a statement jointly signed by the SSANU-SSU Chairman, Ismail Muhammed, and Secretary, Mansur Ahmad, the union said the decision was taken after several attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue and consultations with government officials failed to produce tangible results.

The association listed its demands to include the payment of arrears arising from the 25 per cent salary increase, approval and implementation of the 35 per cent Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA), annual salary increments for eligible members and the release of outstanding check-off dues.

According to the union, it had engaged the Commissioner for Higher Education, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary and the Deputy Governor in efforts to secure an amicable resolution.

It further disclosed that the government subsequently established a committee to engage university-based unions at Sokoto State University and Shehu Shagari University of Education.

SSANU said that during a meeting held on October 9, the government declined to pay the outstanding arrears from the 25 per cent salary increment and indicated that CONTTA implementation would begin in January 2027, subject to budgetary provisions.

The union, however, rejected the proposed arrangement, describing it as inadequate to address the outstanding concerns of its members.

It said the government failed to take concrete action on its demands despite being given additional opportunity to do so before the expiration of the ultimatum.

The association maintained that the 35 per cent CONTTA was a legitimate entitlement, pointing out that similar allowances had been approved for academic staff under the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other categories of workers in state-owned tertiary institutions.

SSANU appealed to Governor Ahmed Aliyu to intervene personally and approve the outstanding entitlements before the expiration of the warning strike to prevent a total shutdown of the institution.

The union also urged traditional rulers, parents, students and other stakeholders to intervene in the dispute and support efforts towards an amicable settlement.