The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has suspended academic activities following the commencement of an indefinite strike by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU). The industrial action, which began on May 1, 2026, has brought campus operations to a standstill.
Peaceful Protest at UNILORIN Main Gate
On Monday, union members staged a peaceful protest at the university’s main gate, displaying placards with demands for fair wages, payment of withheld salaries, and a 45 percent salary increment. The unions have rejected the Federal Government’s proposed 30 percent increase, insisting on a higher adjustment.
SSANU Chairman Speaks on Strike Triggers
Prof. Falowo Olushola, Chairman of SSANU at UNILORIN, stated that the strike was necessitated by the Federal Government’s failure to conclude and implement the 2009 agreement with non-teaching staff unions. He noted that multiple ultimatums issued since December 2025 and March 2026 had been ignored, leaving the unions with no choice but to take industrial action. Olushola emphasized that anything below a 45 percent salary increase would not be accepted.
NASU Chairman Highlights Ongoing Struggles
Suberu Ibrahim, Chairman of NASU at the university, described the protest as part of a long-standing struggle that has persisted for several years. He revealed that renegotiations of the 2009 agreement have been ongoing since 2017 without resolution. Ibrahim also pointed out disparities in salary adjustments, noting that academic staff received about a 40 percent increase earlier in 2026 while non-teaching staff were excluded. He called for equal treatment and the extension of similar benefits to all workers.
Ibrahim further disclosed that members are owed significant arrears, including one year and two months of unpaid salaries from 2022. He stressed that these arrears must be settled before the strike can be called off.
Impact on Campus Operations
The strike has severely disrupted campus operations. Transport services have been halted, and administrative functions are affected. According to the unions, the action is intended to demonstrate the critical role of non-teaching staff in the university system.
Failed Last-Minute Meeting
A last-minute meeting between union leaders and government representatives on April 29 ended without an agreement. This prompted the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU to proceed with the indefinite strike. The industrial action affects federal and state universities nationwide, as well as inter-university centres. Monitoring teams have been deployed to ensure compliance, and the unions have vowed to continue the strike until all demands are fully met.
