The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has strongly rejected the disbursement formula approved for the recent ₦50 billion intervention fund for university-based unions.
According to the unions, the Federal Government’s allocation heavily favors the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which reportedly received 80% of the total funds, leaving a meager 20% to be shared among SSANU, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the non-academic unions described the arrangement as “grossly unfair, provocative, and totally unacceptable.” They warned that the inequitable distribution could trigger widespread industrial unrest and deepen existing tensions between teaching and non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities.
“This lopsided arrangement is capable of creating industrial disharmony and further accentuating the teaching/non-teaching dichotomy in Nigerian universities,” the statement read.
Emphasizing their essential role in the university ecosystem, the unions declared that non-teaching staff should not be treated as second-class citizens.
“Non-teaching staff contribute immensely to administrative efficiency, technical operations, research support, and the overall functionality of Nigerian universities,” the statement continued. “This is not a contest of supremacy among unions but a demand for fairness and equitable treatment.”
SSANU and NASU urged the government to immediately review and reverse the distribution formula, warning that ignoring their concerns would result in “avoidable resentment” and could destabilize the academic environment.
“The time to correct this injustice is now. A stitch in time saves nine,” the unions concluded, reaffirming their commitment to peaceful advocacy but vowing not to remain silent in the face of perceived injustice.
