The Sokoto State University (SSU) Chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has launched a five-working-day warning strike over unresolved staff entitlements, threatening to escalate to an indefinite strike if the Sokoto State Government fails to meet its demands.
The industrial action, which began on Monday, November 2, followed the expiration of a 14-working-day ultimatum the union issued to the state government on October 14.
In a press statement jointly signed by the Chapter Chairman, Ismail Bala Muhammed, and the Secretary, Mansur Ahmad, the union said the decision to embark on the strike followed repeated engagements, appeals and consultations with relevant government officials, which failed to produce any concrete resolution.
Among its outstanding demands are 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 (CONTTA), payment of annual salary increments to eligible members and the release of outstanding check-off dues.
The union said it had made several representations to the Commissioner for Higher Education, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and the Deputy Governor in an effort to resolve the dispute amicably.
It explained that the government subsequently constituted a committee to engage university-based unions from Sokoto State University and Shehu Shagari University of Education.
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 implementation of CONTTA would commence in January 2027, subject to budgetary provision.
SSANU, however, said the government’s position failed to address the major concerns of its members.
The union added that although it resubmitted its demands as requested by the Permanent Secretary, the government failed to take concrete action before the expiration of the ultimatum.
It 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 (ASUU) and other categories of workers in state-owned tertiary institutions.
SSANU appealed to Governor Ahmed Aliyu to personally intervene in the dispute and approve its outstanding demands to prevent further disruption of activities at the university.
It also called on traditional institutions, parents, students and other stakeholders to support efforts towards an amicable resolution of the dispute.
The union warned that failure by the state government to address its demands at the end of the five-working-day warning strike would compel it to embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of services at the university.
