By Rahila Abdullahi, Aljazirah
The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has threatened a three-day nationwide warning strike from November 16 to 18, 2026, over the non-payment of CONTTA allowances and the failure of the Federal Government to implement the 2026 renegotiated agreement with the union.
The Association issued the warning on Wednesday, following a meeting of its General Executive Council (GEC) in Abuja, where it expressed dissatisfaction with what it described as prolonged delays and unfulfilled government assurances regarding the implementation of the agreement.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Comrade Nura Shehu Gaya, FCAI, the union said it had formally resumed its earlier ultimatum to the Federal and State Governments with effect from November 11, warning that failure to address its demands would trigger the planned industrial action.
SSANIP expressed concern that despite repeated assurances by the Minister of Education that funds for CONTTA had been released and domiciled in the accounts of various institutions, its members had yet to receive payment.
The union recalled that the Minister gave the assurance during the unveiling of the renegotiated agreement on October 13, 2026, and the inauguration of the Implementation and Monitoring Committee the following day.
However, several weeks after the announcements, the Association said eligible members remained unpaid, describing the situation as unacceptable.
Beyond the outstanding allowances, SSANIP accused the relevant authorities of failing to implement other critical provisions of the agreement, particularly the migration of non-teaching staff to CONTEDISS 15.
It also faulted the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for allegedly failing to issue clear and adequate implementation guidelines to polytechnic managements, thereby delaying the execution of the provision.
The union consequently urged the NBTE to follow the example of the National Universities Commission (NUC) by urgently communicating the contents of the agreement to polytechnic managements to ensure uniform and timely implementation across institutions.
The GEC further resolved that November 19 to 24 would constitute the final window for the government to settle the outstanding CONTTA payments and address other unresolved provisions of the agreement.
It warned that failure to meet the demands within the period would lead to an indefinite nationwide strike.
In addition to the planned warning strike, SSANIP announced a nationwide mass protest scheduled for Wednesday, November 25, 2026, with designated protest points at the NBTE Abuja Liaison Office, the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Assembly.
The union directed all zonal coordinators, chapter chairmen and branch executives to begin immediate mobilization of members ahead of the protest.
Reaffirming its position, SSANIP maintained that payment of CONTTA and implementation of the remaining provisions of the 2026 agreement were legitimate entitlements arising from a duly negotiated and signed agreement, rather than privileges subject to the discretion of government officials.
It described as disturbing the contradiction between the Minister’s repeated assurances that funds had been released to institutions and the continued failure of eligible beneficiaries to receive payment.
Although the Association said it remained committed to constructive engagement and industrial harmony, it insisted that further assurances without concrete action would no longer be acceptable.
“The time for assurances is over; the time for payment and implementation is now!” the union declared.
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