Nigeria’s non-academic university unions have firmly rejected the Federal Government’s allocation formula for the disbursement of N50 billion in earned allowances, warning that the move could trigger fresh industrial unrest across campuses.
The unions—comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU); issued a joint statement condemning the government’s decision to allocate 80 percent of the funds to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), leaving only 20 percent for SSANU, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) to share.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC), representing SSANU and NASU, described the allocation as “grossly unfair, provocative, and unacceptable,” arguing that it undermines the contributions of non-teaching staff to the university system. They stressed that such a formula risks deepening existing divisions between academic and non-academic staff and may lead to industrial disharmony.
In the statement signed by NASU’s General Secretary and SSANU’s National President, JAC reiterated that non-teaching staff are vital to the administration, research, and smooth operation of universities, and must not be treated as second-class citizens. The unions maintained that their objection was not rooted in rivalry with ASUU, but in the demand for equity and recognition.
They urged the Federal Government to urgently review and reverse the proposed distribution, warning that failure to act swiftly could lead to widespread dissatisfaction.
“The time to correct this injustice is now. A stitch in time saves nine,” the statement concluded.
