UI Gates Shut As NASU, SSANU Strike Over Delayed 2009 Agreement, Leaving Students And Staff Stranded Amid Welfare Disputes

UI Gates Shut as NASU, SSANU Strike Over Delayed 2009 Agreement, Leaving Students and Staff Stranded Amid Welfare Disputes

The main gates of the University of Ibadan (UI) were shut on Monday as members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) embarked on a protest over the delayed implementation of the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government. The industrial action disrupted academic and administrative activities across the institution, leaving students, staff, and visitors stranded outside the camp The protesting workers are demanding the full implementation of the long-standing 2009 agreement, which covers welfare conditions, salary structures, and allowances for non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities. Union leaders said repeated negotiations with the Federal Government had failed to produce meaningful progress, prompting the renewed industrial action.

They accused authorities of persistent delays in addressing critical issues affecting staff welfare and university operations.

At UI, major entry points were locked as union members mounted peaceful pickets, effectively halting movement into the institution.

The protest also affected other universities, including the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and the University of Ilorin UNILORIN, where similar disruptions were reported as part of the nationwide strike.

Key services such as administrative offices, transport operations, and support services were significantly affected. Union representatives insisted that the strike became necessary after years of unresolved grievances, including

• Delayed salary adjustments
• Unpaid arrears
• Poor working conditions
• Failure to fully implement previous agreements

They maintained that non-academic staff play essential roles in university administration and should not be neglected in welfare negotiations. Students were seen stranded outside locked gates, with many unable to access lecture halls, libraries, and examination centres. The disruption has raised concerns over possible delays in academic calendars if the industrial action persist. The unions called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and expedite the implementation of the 2009 agreement to avoid prolonged disruption in the university system. They warned that continued delays could escalate tensions across federal universities nationwide. The ongoing strike by NASU and SSANU highlights deep-rooted welfare disputes in Nigeria’s university system, with mounting pressure on government authorities to resolve the lingering 2009 agreement crisis. As negotiations remain unresolved, academic activities across affected institutions continue to face uncertainty.