Students of the University of Ibadan staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday over the disruption of essential services on campus following the ongoing strike by the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).
The demonstration, which took place within the university premises in Ibadan, saw students expressing frustration over the prolonged shutdown of basic amenities, including electricity and water supply – services largely maintained by non-academic personnel.
Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, the students decried the adverse impact of the strike on their academic and living conditions.
They noted that the lack of access to fundamental utilities has significantly disrupted daily activities and created an unconducive environment for learning.
The protesters called on the federal government to urgently address the demands of the striking union, stressing that the issues raised by NASU should be treated with the seriousness they deserve to prevent further deterioration of conditions in tertiary institutions.
They further urged authorities to initiate immediate dialogue with the union to resolve the lingering dispute and restore normal operations on campus.
The protest remained peaceful, with no reported incidents of violence, as students maintained that their objective was to draw attention to the hardship caused by the strike and push for a swift resolution.
Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has announced plans to suspend its ongoing nationwide strike, with members expected to resume duties on Monday, May 11, 2026.
The decision follows a directive issued to union branches nationwide, instructing them to commence processes for the formal suspension of the industrial action.
In a statement jointly signed by NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions disclosed that the move came after a crucial engagement with the Federal Government’s Expanded Renegotiation Committee.
The committee is chaired by the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed.
According to the unions, the decision to suspend the strike was influenced by appeals from stakeholders, alongside assurances from the federal government that ongoing renegotiations would be concluded within a specified timeframe.
“The leadership of JAC considered the passionate appeal for the suspension of the ongoing strike action and also extracted a commitment from the Federal Government’s Expanded Renegotiation Committee that all renegotiations, including a reviewed offer of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS), shall be concluded within two weeks from the date of the suspension,” the statement read.
The industrial action, which began on May 1, was triggered by what the unions described as the federal government’s failure to finalise the renegotiation of the 2009 agreements affecting non-teaching staff in public universities.
The unions also rejected a proposed 30 per cent salary increase, insisting it fell short of expectations.
Branch leaders have now been directed to convene congresses to formally communicate the latest development and facilitate the suspension of the strike effective from May 11, while further engagements with relevant stakeholders continue.
SSANU and NASU also expressed appreciation to their members nationwide for their solidarity and adherence to the strike directive, describing the level of compliance as encouraging.
The planned suspension is expected to restore essential services in public universities across the country, many of which had been disrupted during the strike period.
