Non-academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education have rejected a 30% increase in their consolidated salary structure, as proposed by the federal government.
The federal government’s aim was to ease long-standing labour tensions and boosting morale across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The approval comes after years of agitation by non-academic staff unions, particularly the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union, over salary disparities and unpaid allowances.
It also followed approval of a 40 per cent pay rise granted to the Academic Staff Union of Universities by the Federal Government.
However, the National Executive Council of the SSANU has insisted that no final agreement has been reached.
It threatened industrial action if talks were not concluded by the end of April.
In a letter dated March 30, 2026, and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the government said the increment would be implemented as a Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance.