The Federal Government of Nigeria has released eight months of withheld salary arrears owed to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). This move comes after the union threatened to shut down academic activities across the country. The payment was made less than 48 hours after SSANU issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government over the implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement.
SSANU had demanded the immediate settlement of outstanding financial obligations to its members, including the payment of outstanding Consolidated University Teaching and Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTTA) arrears dating back to January 1, 2026. The union also sought the payment of two months' salaries withheld during its 2022 industrial action and one-year arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.
The release of the funds covering eight months of the salary arrears was confirmed by SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim. He stated that members of the union would soon begin receiving alerts reflecting the payments. Ibrahim commended the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, for intervening in the matter and facilitating the release of the funds.
According to Ibrahim, the Minister of Education had contacted him before the ultimatum was issued to confirm that the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation were processing the funds for release. The union president described the release as evidence that constructive engagement between the government and university-based unions could produce positive results when followed by prompt action.
However, the Federal Government's latest action did not resolve all the outstanding issues. The union stated that the two months' salaries withheld during the 2022 strike and the one-year arrears resulting from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases remained unpaid. SSANU described these outstanding payments as legitimate entitlements and urged the government to settle them without further delay.
SSANU directed its members across various branches to liaise with their university managements to ensure that the released funds were paid promptly and judiciously. Members were also asked to report any shortfall in their payments to the union. The union called on state governments and governing councils of state-owned universities to ensure full and equitable implementation of the agreement.
The union reaffirmed that it would continue to engage the government constructively in pursuit of the welfare of its members. SSANU warned that where agreements were not faithfully implemented, it would not hesitate to use lawful and constitutional means to protect the rights, welfare, and professional interests of university workers. The prompt release of the arrears reinforced the union's belief in sustained engagement between the government and university-based unions.
Key points
- The Nigerian Federal Government released eight months of withheld salary arrears to SSANU following a strike threat.
- The released funds cover part of the outstanding financial obligations to SSANU members.
- The union continues to demand payment of remaining outstanding arrears.
