Strike Looms in Universities as SSANU Gives FG 14 Days to Pay Outstanding Salaries

By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

A fresh industrial crisis may be brewing in Nigeria’s university system as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate payment of outstanding salary arrears and other financial entitlements owed its members.

The union warned that failure to meet its demands within the specified period could trigger an indefinite nationwide strike, a move that could disrupt academic and administrative activities across public universities.

The decision was reached at SSANU’s 56th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State. The meeting, which took place between September 30 and October 1, reviewed issues affecting university workers, the state of funding in tertiary institutions, and the implementation of agreements reached between the union and the Federal Government.

Addressing journalists through a communique issued after the meeting, SSANU National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, said members were increasingly frustrated by delays in the payment of salary-related obligations that had accumulated since the implementation of the 2026 Federal Government/SSANU CONTTA salary structure.

According to him, the union is demanding the immediate release and payment of all outstanding arrears tied to the salary structure, which took effect from January 1, 2026. He noted that while some universities had managed to implement the agreement using internally generated revenue and other institutional resources, many others were yet to comply fully due to the absence of direct federal funding.

The union commended institutions that had taken steps to implement the salary adjustment despite financial constraints and urged vice-chancellors and governing councils of universities yet to comply to follow suit in the interest of industrial harmony.

Advertisement

Beyond the salary structure arrears, SSANU is also demanding payment of two months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 nationwide strike, as well as arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increments approved for university workers. The union described the unpaid funds as lawful entitlements that should no longer be delayed.

Ibrahim said the prolonged wait for the payments had placed enormous financial pressure on members at a time when many Nigerians were already struggling with rising living costs and economic hardship. He stressed that workers had shown patience for too long and expected government to honour its commitments without further delay.

The union also expressed concern over disparities in the implementation of the agreement across state-owned universities. It called on state governments to provide adequate funding to ensure that affected institutions fully comply with approved salary adjustments and welfare packages.

On the broader challenges facing higher education, SSANU urged authorities to significantly increase investment in critical areas such as electricity supply, laboratories, workshops, libraries, information and communication technology facilities, campus security and infrastructure maintenance. The union argued that sustainable funding remained essential to improving the quality of university education in the country.

It further opposed the use of virtual accreditation as a replacement for physical inspection of academic facilities, insisting that on-site assessments remain necessary to accurately determine the condition of institutions and the quality of learning environments.

SSANU also voiced strong opposition to any move to privatise, concession or transfer the management of King’s College, Lagos, or any other public educational institution to private interests. The union maintained that public schools should remain accessible to all Nigerians and continue to operate under government ownership.

The NEC additionally raised concerns over worsening insecurity, food shortages and the rising cost of living across the country. It called on the Federal Government to strengthen protection for farming communities and educational institutions while introducing policies aimed at preserving workers’ purchasing power and improving living standards.