Fresh tension is building in Nigeria’s public university system as non-academic staff unions have rejected the federal government’s sharing formula for the N50 billion recently approved to settle outstanding allowances.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have described the decision to allocate 80 percent of the funds to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), while leaving 20 percent to be shared among themselves and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), as unjust and provocative.
In a joint statement issued in Abuja, NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, warned that the skewed formula could lead to renewed industrial action and deepen the division between academic and non-academic staff.
“This is not about rivalry. It is about equity, recognition and justice. Non-teaching staff play vital roles in the day-to-day running of universities. They should not be treated as second-class workers,” the statement read.
The N50 billion was released by the federal government in April to address years of unpaid allowances across federal universities. The intervention followed an agreement reached in August 2022, when NASU and SSANU suspended a long-running strike after the government pledged to resolve key issues, including welfare, conditions of service and the controversial Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
According to the unions, the 2022 agreement included a provision for equal sharing of the funds between academic and non-academic staff. They said the new formula not only violates that understanding but also undermines efforts to build harmony within the university system.
So far, the federal government has not explained the basis for the 80:20 distribution, a silence that many believe is fuelling suspicion and dissatisfaction across campuses.
Observers warn that the disagreement could undo recent gains in stabilising public universities, which have long suffered from underfunding, infrastructure decay and recurring strikes.
For years, Nigeria’s public universities have been plagued by poor funding, resulting in inadequate facilities, overcrowded hostels, outdated libraries and laboratories, and a steady exodus of academic and technical talent abroad in search of better opportunities.
Stakeholders are now urging all the unions involved, along with the federal government, to return to the negotiation table and resolve the dispute amicably.
“Teaching and research are central to university education, but they cannot thrive without the administrative and technical support provided by non-academic staff,” the union said.
“There must be a fair and transparent process that recognises the contributions of all workers.”
As the academic calendar gradually stabilises following past disruptions, many Nigerians are hoping that this latest disagreement will not spiral into another round of strikes.
For a country already struggling to rebuild confidence in its education system, stakeholders insist that this is a moment for dialogue, not division.
