Sokoto university shut over unpaid entitlements in Nigeria
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
The union representing administrative staff at Nigerian universities has shut down services at Sokoto State University to demand unpaid salaries and allowances. A five-day warning strike began on 2 November, with the threat of indefinite action if the state government does not respond to the demands, Punch reports.
Sokoto State University in north-western Nigeria suspended its services on Monday, 2 November, after a five-working-day warning strike was launched by the local chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). The union is protesting unpaid staff entitlements, according to Punch.
SSANU is demanding, among other things, arrears linked to a 25% pay rise, implementation of a 35% allowance for non-teaching staff, annual increments owed to some employees and payment of withheld union dues. The action follows the expiry of a 14-working-day ultimatum issued to the state government on 14 October. The union has threatened an indefinite strike if its demands are not met at the end of the action.
At a meeting on 9 October, the Sokoto State government said it would not pay the arrears linked to the 25% increase. It planned to begin implementing the non-teaching staff allowance in January 2027, subject to budget allocations. SSANU rejected this position and says talks with the authorities, including the commissioner for higher education and the deputy governor, have not led to concrete measures.
