The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has threatened an indefinite nationwide strike from November 26 if the Federal and State Governments fail to pay outstanding allowances and implement the renegotiated 2026 agreement.
The union also announced a three-day warning strike from November 16 to 18, followed by a nationwide protest on November 25 over the alleged failure to fulfil commitments made to its members.
The decisions were taken on Wednesday at a meeting of the union’s General Executive Council, according to a statement signed by its National Secretary, Nura Shehu Gaya.
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SSANIP said its fresh ultimatum, which took effect on November 11, was prompted by the continued non-payment of the CONTTA allowance and the failure to implement key provisions of the agreement reached with the Federal Government.
The union expressed concern that the Minister of Education had repeatedly assured members that funds for the allowance had been released and lodged in the accounts of the institutions.
It said the assurances were given during the unveiling of the agreement on October 13 and the inauguration of the Implementation and Monitoring Committee on October 14.
“However, several weeks after these assurances, our members remain unpaid,” the union said.
SSANIP also accused the National Board for Technical Education of failing to issue clear directives to polytechnic managements on the implementation of the agreement, particularly the movement of non-teaching staff to CONTEDISS 15.
The union urged the NBTE to follow the example of the National Universities Commission by communicating the agreement’s provisions to institutions to ensure uniform and timely implementation.
It gave the government November 19 to 24 as the final window to settle the outstanding payments and address other provisions of the agreement.
Failure to meet the demands within that period, it warned, would trigger an indefinite nationwide strike from November 26.
The union further scheduled a mass protest for November 25, to be held at the NBTE Abuja Liaison Office, the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Assembly.
It directed zonal coordinators, chapter chairmen and branch executives to begin mobilising members for the planned industrial actions.
SSANIP maintained that the payment of CONTTA and implementation of the renegotiated agreement were legitimate entitlements arising from a signed agreement, not favours dependent on the discretion of government officials.
While expressing its commitment to dialogue and industrial harmony, the union said repeated assurances without concrete action were no longer acceptable.
“The time for assurances is over; the time for payment and implementation is now!” it declared.
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