Non-teaching staff unions at Yobe State University, Damaturu, have threatened to embark on a warning strike over the alleged failure of the university management to implement an agreed salary adjustment for their members.
The unions, comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, said industrial action could become inevitable if the outstanding issues were not addressed.
The Chairman of SSANU, Yobe State University branch, and Chairman of the Joint Action Committee, Ibrahim Liman, expressed the unions’ displeasure in a statement on Tuesday over the delay in implementing the salary agreement.
Liman said the unions were particularly concerned that teaching staff had reportedly benefited from similar salary adjustments, while non-teaching employees were yet to receive theirs.
He described the situation as unfair, insisting that non-teaching staff played critical roles in the administration and day-to-day running of the university and should not be excluded from agreed welfare benefits.
“Our members are concerned about the delay in implementing the salary agreement, especially when teaching staff have reportedly benefited from similar adjustments,” Liman said.
He stressed that the threat of industrial action represented the collective position of SSANU and NASU under the Joint Action Committee, adding that the unions would not hesitate to take action if the management failed to resolve the matter.
“We expect the university management and other relevant authorities to intervene urgently and ensure that the agreement is fully implemented,” he said.
Liman warned that failure to address the unions’ grievances could lead to a disruption of administrative and technical services, with possible consequences for the smooth running of the institution.
The dispute comes amid efforts to implement the 2026 salary agreements involving university staff unions and the Federal Government, including provisions affecting non-teaching employees.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the university management had yet to publicly respond to the unions’ threat.