SSANU gives Sokoto five-day ultimatum to avert varsity shutdown

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Sokoto State University chapter, has downed tools at the institution following the commencement of a five-working-day warning strike over unresolved staff entitlements.

The union warned that it would embark on an indefinite strike if the Sokoto State Government failed to address its demands before the expiration of the warning action.

The strike, which commenced on Monday, November 2, followed the expiration of a 14-working-day ultimatum issued to the state government on October 14.

In a statement on Monday by the SSANU SSU Chairman, Ismail Muhammed, and Secretary, Mansur Ahmad, the union said the decision followed unsuccessful attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue and engagements with government officials.

The statement read, “Despite repeated engagements, appeals and consultations with relevant government authorities, no concrete action has been taken to address the legitimate demands of our members.

“SSANU is demanding the payment of arrears arising from the 25 per cent salary increment, approval and implementation of the 35 per cent Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance, annual salary increments for eligible members and the release of outstanding check-off dues.”

The union explained that it had previously engaged the Commissioner for Higher Education, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and the Deputy Governor in a bid to resolve the issues amicably.

It added that the government subsequently constituted a committee to engage university-based unions from Sokoto State University and Shehu Shagari University of Education.

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According to the statement, at a meeting held on October 9, the government maintained that arrears arising from the 25 per cent salary increment would not be paid, while the implementation of CONTTA would commence in January 2027, subject to budgetary provision.

However, the union rejected the position, insisting that it failed to address the concerns of its members.

“Despite resubmitting our demands as requested by the Permanent Secretary, the government failed to take any concrete action before the expiration of the ultimatum,” the statement read.

The association maintained that the 35 per cent CONTTA was a legitimate entitlement, noting 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.

It appealed to Governor Ahmed Aliyu to personally intervene by approving the outstanding demands to prevent the dispute from escalating.

The union also called on traditional institutions, parents, students and other stakeholders to intervene and facilitate an amicable resolution.

SSANU warned that failure by the government to meet its demands at the end of the five-working-day warning strike would leave it with no option but to embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of services at the university.