Polytechnic workers have threatened an indefinite nationwide strike over unpaid allowances and the Federal Government’s failure to implement the 2026 renegotiated agreement with their union.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) issued the warning on Wednesday, November 11, after a meeting of its General Executive Council (GEC) in Abuja.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Comrade Nura Shehu Gaya, the union said it had formally resumed its earlier ultimatum to the Federal and State Governments, effective November 11.
SSANIP said it would begin a three-day nationwide warning strike from Monday, November 16, to Wednesday, November 18, if its demands were not addressed.
The union expressed concern over the continued non-payment of CONTTA and arrears to members, despite assurances from the Minister of Education that the funds had been released and deposited in the accounts of the various institutions.
It said eligible members remained unpaid weeks after the minister repeated the assurance at the unveiling of the agreement on October 13 and the inauguration of its Implementation and Monitoring Committee on October 14.
SSANIP also faulted the failure to implement other provisions of the agreement, particularly the movement of non-teaching staff to CONTEDISS 15. It said the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had yet to issue clear directives to polytechnic managements on implementing the provision.
The union urged the NBTE to communicate the agreement’s contents to institution managements, following the example of the National Universities Commission (NUC), to ensure timely and uniform implementation.
The GEC gave the government November 19 to 24 as a final window to pay CONTTA and address the outstanding provisions. It warned that failure to act within that period would lead to an indefinite nationwide strike.
The association also announced a nationwide mass protest for Wednesday, November 25, with planned gathering points 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.
SSANIP maintained that the payments and implementation of the agreement were legitimate entitlements arising from a negotiated and signed agreement, not favours to be granted at the discretion of government officials.
The union said it remained committed to constructive engagement and industrial harmony but insisted that 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.
Emiabata Deborah Oluwabusiolami
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