SSANU Sokoto Varsity Begins Five-Day Warning Strike Over Unresolved Entitlements
SSANU Sokoto Varsity Begins Five-Day Warning Strike Over Unresolved Entitlements
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Sokoto State University Chapter, has commenced a five-working-day warning strike over unresolved staff claims.
In a press statement signed by its Chairman, Ismail Bala Muhammed and Secretary, Mansur Ahmad, the Union said the strike took effect from Monday, November 2, 2026, following the expiration of a 14-working-day ultimatum issued to the Sokoto State Government on October 14, 2026.
According to SSANU, the action became necessary after the state government failed to approve and implement its outstanding demands before the ultimatum elapsed on October 31, 2026, despite repeated engagements and appeals through established dialogue channels.
The Union explained that it had earlier submitted its demands concerning outstanding staff entitlements, and subsequently submitted a comprehensive document covering both outstanding and new demands on July 28, 2026, following the Federal Government and SSANU agreement on 35 per cent Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance, CONTTA.
It said it made several verbal and written follow-ups, including visits to the Commissioner for Higher Education, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Higher Education, and the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State.
The statement noted that the state government constituted a committee comprising the Commissioner for Higher Education, Permanent Secretary, Deputy Accountant-General and Prof. Mustapha Aliyu, to engage representatives of SSANU, NAAT and NASU from SSU and Shehu Shagari University of Education, SSUE.
It added that at a meeting held on October 9, 2026, at the office of the Commissioner for Higher Education, government stated that arrears from the 25 per cent salary increment would not be paid, implementation of CONTTA would commence in January 2027 subject to budgetary provision, and that annual salary increments had already been implemented.
SSANU said following government’s position, it convened an emergency congress on October 13, 2026, where members resolved to issue a 14-working-day ultimatum and to embark on a five-day warning strike, which could lead to an indefinite strike if government remained unresponsive.
The Union said a meeting called by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Higher Education on October 14, 2026, led to temporary suspension of the press release, as members were directed to resubmit their demands with clear categorisation of existing and new claims, their financial implications and separation of low and high financial implication demands.
It said on October 15, 2026, it formally suspended implementation of its earlier resolution, but warned that failure to respond within 14 days would lead to reactivation of the resolution, insisting all demands must be approved and implemented in full.
According to SSANU, a reminder was forwarded to the Commissioner for Higher Education on October 22, 2026, but the ultimatum expired without concrete action.
The outstanding demands listed by the Union are payment of arrears arising from 25 per cent salary increment, approval and immediate implementation of 35 per cent CONTTA, implementation of annual salary increments for all eligible members, and release of all outstanding check-off dues withheld from the Union.
SSANU maintained that the demands are legitimate, noting that 35 per cent CONTTA is comparable to entitlements already approved for ASUU at SSU and SSUE, as well as for teaching and non-teaching staff in other state-owned tertiary institutions.
The Union said it remains committed to constructive dialogue and industrial harmony, but described the continued failure to implement its members’ entitlements as unequal and discriminatory treatment.
It called on Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, relevant government agencies, traditional institutions, parents, students and other stakeholders to intervene urgently before the expiration of the warning strike, warning that failure to resolve the issues may lead to a total and indefinite shutdown of services.
