The Federal Government has released eight months' salary arrears owed members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), averting a planned nationwide strike by the union. The development came after SSANU issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the payment of outstanding salary arrears arising from the implementation of the 2026 Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)/SSANU agreement.
The union had warned that failure by the government to meet its demands within the stipulated period would force it to commence a "total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action". This planned industrial action had raised concerns over a possible disruption of administrative and non-teaching services in federal universities across Nigeria, particularly as SSANU represents senior administrative and other non-academic staff within the university system.
SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed the release of the funds and welcomed the development as an important step towards preventing another industrial crisis in the university system. Ibrahim said the payment would help strengthen industrial harmony and restore confidence among university workers who had been awaiting the implementation of the agreement reached with the Federal Government.
Ibrahim particularly commended the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, for intervening in the matter and working towards ensuring that the outstanding arrears were released. According to the union leader, the resolution of the issue showed that disagreements between the government and university-based unions could be addressed through sustained dialogue, provided such engagement was followed by concrete action.
The payment is expected to ease some of the pressure on members of the union and prevent an immediate disruption of activities in universities that could have affected students and other stakeholders. However, SSANU stressed that the release of the eight months' arrears did not mean that all outstanding financial obligations to its members had been settled. Other salary arrears remain outstanding, Ibrahim disclosed that two months' salaries withheld during the 2022 industrial action were still outstanding.
The union also noted that members were yet to receive one-year arrears resulting from the implementation of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases. "These are legitimate entitlements of our members and should not be subjected to further delay," he said. The union therefore called on the Federal Government to maintain the momentum by ensuring that all outstanding agreements and financial obligations to university-based unions were implemented without further delay.
Ibrahim urged the Federal Government to adopt the same approach in resolving other outstanding issues with university-based unions, stressing that prolonged delays in implementing agreements could erode workers' confidence and create avoidable tension. He also extended the appeal to state governments and governing councils of state-owned universities, urging them to ensure that agreements reached with university-based unions were fully implemented and adequately funded.
Key points
- The Federal Government of Nigeria releases eight months' salary arrears to avert a planned nationwide strike by SSANU.
- The payment does not cover all outstanding financial obligations to SSANU members, with two months' salaries withheld during the 2022 industrial action and one-year arrears from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases still outstanding.
- The union calls for sustained dialogue and timely implementation of agreements to prevent future disputes and ensure industrial harmony in the university system.
