Tension is mounting and University strike looms as Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Unions, NASU fights Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU Over lion share of President Bola Tinubu’s 50Billion Naira intervention funds.
Pressure is mounting across Nigeria’s federal university system because non-academic unions have raised strong objections to the proposed sharing formula of President Bola Tinubu’s N50 billion intervention fund. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have insisted that the lion’s share of the funds cannot go to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), warning that such lopsided disbursement risks plunging the nation’s tertiary education sector into another round of industrial crisis.
The disbursement formula — which allots 80 percent of the N50 billion to ASUU and leaves the remaining 20 percent to be shared among SSANU, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) — has sparked outrage within the non-academic unions. In a strongly-worded joint statement issued in Abuja, the unions described the allocation as unjust, provocative, and an affront to the principles of fairness and inclusivity.
According to SSANU National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, and NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, the current formula undermines the indispensable contributions of non-teaching staff to the university system. They emphasized that while academic staff handle teaching and research, non-academic staff are the backbone of university administration, operations, and technical support — functions that are just as vital to the institutions’ survival and functionality.
The N50 billion fund, approved by the Federal Government in April 2025, was designed to settle outstanding allowances and help stabilize a sector long plagued by industrial unrest, poor infrastructure, and declining morale among staff. However, what was meant to be a landmark intervention is now threatening to reopen wounds that many hoped were healing.
Education stakeholders have warned that unless urgent steps are taken to address the grievances of the non-academic unions, a full-blown university strike may soon disrupt academic activities nationwide. This is particularly troubling given the relative peace that has returned to campuses in recent months after years of turbulence.
Many observers have noted that the real issue extends beyond numbers — it is about trust, inclusion, and equitable governance within the higher education system. The insistence on an 80:20 sharing formula, without consulting all stakeholders or providing transparent metrics, has only deepened the mistrust between teaching and non-teaching staff.
What adds to the complexity of the current crisis is the 2022 agreement between the government and university unions, which reportedly stipulated equal sharing of any future disbursement of funds. This agreement formed part of the truce that ended the prolonged strike by SSANU and NASU in 2022, during which the Federal Government pledged to release the N50 billion now in contention.
Critics argue that ignoring the provisions of that agreement could reignite not only industrial action but also broader discontent across public universities. Given Nigeria’s long history of disrupted academic calendars, dilapidated infrastructure, and brain-drain fueled by systemic neglect, any policy or financial decision that causes renewed tension must be handled with utmost care and transparency.
In addition to condemning the 80:20 split, the unions emphasized the need for relevant data and justification for any disparity in fund allocation. They argue that there should be clear statistics regarding staff strength, duties, and responsibilities that guide the distribution process. Anything short of a fair and open approach, they say, will only breed antagonism and erode trust in government’s intentions.
Furthermore, the unions warned that non-teaching staff must no longer be treated as second-class stakeholders within the university system. Their roles in research support, facility maintenance, student services, financial administration, and general university operations are critical and cannot be dismissed when it comes to financial recognition and welfare.
While many agree that the Federal Government, under President Tinubu, deserves commendation for releasing the long-awaited funds, analysts insist that this goodwill must not be squandered through hasty or poorly executed disbursement decisions. The goal of any intervention should be to promote stability, not provoke further discord.
As calls grow for urgent dialogue between the government, ASUU, and the non-academic unions, it is imperative for all parties to prioritize national interest and the future of higher education in Nigeria. With students, parents, and the entire education system at stake, another strike is a cost the country can ill afford.
For now, the threat of a fresh university shutdown looms large — and unless transparency are restored to the disbursement process, the peace on Nigerian campuses may once again be shattered.