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SSANU shuts Sokoto varsity over unpaid allowances, threatens indefinite strike
The union warned that it would embark on an indefinite strike if the Sokoto State Government failed to address its demands before the expiration of the warning action.
The strike, which commenced on Monday, November 2, followed the expiration of a 14-working-day ultimatum issued to the state government on October 14.
In a statement made available to journalists on Monday and jointly signed by the chapter Chairman, Ismail Bala Muhammed, and Secretary, Mansur Ahmad, SSANU said the decision followed unsuccessful attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue and engagements with relevant government officials.
The union said, “Despite repeated engagements, appeals and consultations with relevant government authorities, no concrete action has been taken to address the legitimate demands of our members.”
SSANU is demanding 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, annual salary increments for eligible members and the release of outstanding check-off dues.
The union said it had previously engaged the Commissioner for Higher Education, the ministry’s permanent secretary and the deputy governor in a bid to resolve the issues amicably.
It added 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 the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance would commence in January 2027, subject to budgetary provision.
However, the union rejected the position, insisting that it failed to address the concerns of its members.
“Despite resubmitting our demands as requested by the Permanent Secretary, the government failed to take any concrete action before the expiration of the ultimatum,” the statement said.
The association maintained that the 35 per cent allowance was a legitimate entitlement, noting that similar allowances had been approved for academic staff under the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other categories of workers in state-owned tertiary institutions.
It appealed to Governor Ahmed Aliyu to personally intervene by approving the outstanding demands to prevent the dispute from escalating.
The union also called on traditional institutions, parents, students and other stakeholders to intervene and facilitate an amicable resolution.
SSANU warned that if the government failed to meet its demands by the end of the five-working-day warning strike, it would have no option but to embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of services at the university.
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