The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a fresh 14-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Federal Government, demanding the release and payment of arrears contained in the 2026 agreement. SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, announced this at a news briefing in Abuja, where he read the resolutions of the association's national executive council meeting held at the Federal University Uyo. Ibrahim stated that payments for the arrears have been implemented haphazardly, despite the 2026 agreement being clear on the modalities to resolve lingering issues.
The ultimatum follows a stern warning issued last Thursday against delays, selective implementation, and marginalization in the rollout of the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement. The union emphasized that it will not accept unnecessary delays, selective implementation, marginalization, or any attempt to diminish the financial and non-financial provisions of the agreement. Ibrahim noted that implementation had commenced in some universities but remained incomplete in others due to funding and administrative challenges.
Mohammed Ibrahim stressed that the 2026 pact and NEC resolutions must yield measurable benefits, adding that agreements and NEC resolutions must translate into concrete action and measurable benefits for SSANU members. He directed branches and zones to continue monitoring implementation, maintain accurate and verifiable membership records, document cases of non-compliance or victimization, and provide timely reports to the National Secretariat.
In a related development, SSANU has rejected plans to concession King’s College, Lagos. The association's rejection generated concerns over the ownership and management of the 117-year-old institution, which was set up in 1909 by the colonial government. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, had announced in August that the school had been transferred to the Old Boys Association in a 35-year concession plan.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has also kicked against the planned concession, describing the arrangement as a threat to public education and the rights of teachers. NUT President, Titus Amba, made the position of the union known during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abuja, emphasizing that the concession represents a dangerous departure from the principle of public education.
Amba noted that while the union recognizes the contributions of old students and other stakeholders to the development of educational institutions, it strongly opposes the transfer of the management and operational responsibility of King’s College to a private association. The concession poses a serious threat to the employment security, professional autonomy, and workplace rights of teachers, according to Amba.
The SSANU ultimatum and the rejection of the King’s College concession plan highlight the ongoing challenges in Nigeria's education sector. The unions are demanding concrete actions and measurable benefits from the government, emphasizing the need for adequate funding and implementation of agreements to ensure the smooth operation of universities and public schools.
Key points
- SSANU issues 14-day ultimatum to Nigerian government over unpaid arrears.
- The union rejects plans to concession King’s College, Lagos, citing threats to public education.
- NUT also opposes the concession plan, emphasizing the need to protect public education and teachers' rights.
