SOKOTO, NIGERIA — The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Sokoto State University Branch, has accused the Vice-Chancellor, Professor M.B. Yerima, of misrepresenting facts surrounding its ongoing warning strike. The union insisted that the industrial action followed due process.
The union said it embarked on the five-day warning strike after exhausting several avenues of dialogue with the university management and the Sokoto State Government. The strike is over members’ unpaid entitlements.
Response to Allegations
The Branch Chairman, Isma’il Bala Muhammad, stated this in a press statement issued on Friday in Sokoto. The statement was a reaction to allegations by the Vice-Chancellor that the union failed to follow established procedures before embarking on the strike.
Muhammad explained that the union had formally presented its demands to the university management. After this, the Vice-Chancellor constituted a committee to examine and verify the issues raised.
He said the verified demands were subsequently forwarded to the Sokoto State Government through the Ministry for Higher Education. This led to several meetings between the union and the ministry.
According to him, SSANU also issued a 14-day ultimatum after the engagements failed to produce the desired resolution.
“The Vice-Chancellor was fully aware of all these engagements and the steps taken by the union to resolve the issues before we decided to embark on the warning strike,” he said.
Congress Approval
He maintained that the industrial action was not an arbitrary decision by the union’s leadership. He stressed that members unanimously approved it at a congress.
“The decision to embark on the strike was unanimously endorsed by members at Congress. We followed the necessary procedures and cannot accept any suggestion that we acted outside established channels,” Muhammad stated.
Rejection of Political Motives
The chairman also rejected allegations that the strike was politically motivated or intended to sabotage the university’s administration. He described the claims as baseless and an attempt to distract attention from the welfare issues raised by the union.
He said SSANU had played a significant role in the establishment, growth, and development of Sokoto State University. This was particularly during its formative years, when members contributed to attracting qualified professionals to strengthen the institution.
Contributions of Members
Muhammad further faulted attempts to undermine the intellectual and professional contributions of SSANU members. He noted that the union comprised personnel with diverse academic qualifications, including PhDs, master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, Higher National Diplomas, and National Diplomas.
He also rejected the description of the Academic Staff Union of Universities as the mother union in the institution. He insisted that both associations were sister unions with distinct responsibilities and interests.
“ASUU and SSANU are sister unions. No union should be portrayed as superior to another or used to diminish the contributions of other workers to the development of the university,” he added.
Commitment to Harmony
Despite the disagreement with the university management, the SSANU chairman reaffirmed the union’s commitment to industrial harmony and the overall development of the institution.
He, however, insisted that the university authorities and the state government must address members’ outstanding entitlements. He said workers’ welfare remained critical to the stability and effective administration of the institution.
Background
SSANU members at Sokoto State University commenced a five-day warning strike on November 2, 2026. The strike was over unpaid entitlements and other outstanding welfare-related demands.
The industrial action followed engagements between the union, the university management, and the Ministry for Higher Education. It also followed the issuance of a 14-day ultimatum to the relevant authorities.
The strike has drawn renewed attention to the dispute over workers’ welfare at the state-owned institution. The union insists that its demands must be addressed to prevent further escalation.
What This Means
The dispute highlights the challenges facing the education sector in Nigeria. It also underscores the importance of addressing workers’ welfare to maintain industrial harmony.
The union’s stance shows that it is determined to pursue its demands through legitimate means.
What Happens Next
The university management and the state government will need to respond to the union’s demands. The coming days will reveal whether the dispute will be resolved or escalate into a full-scale strike.
