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The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to pay outstanding salary arrears, threatening an indefinite strike if the demand is not met.
SSANU National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, announced the ultimatum in a communique issued on Monday in Abuja after the union’s 56th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
The meeting, held at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, from September 30 to October 1, reviewed workers’ welfare, university funding and the implementation of the 2026 Federal Government of Nigeria/SSANU agreement.
Ibrahim said the NEC demanded immediate payment of all outstanding arrears arising from the implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU CONTTA salary structure, effective from January 1, 2026.
He warned that failure by the Federal Government to settle the arrears within 14 days would force the union to commence an indefinite strike without further notice.
According to him, some universities had already implemented the new salary structure largely through internally generated funds, despite the absence of direct financial support from the Federal Government.
He urged vice-chancellors and governing councils of universities yet to implement the agreement to follow the example of institutions that had taken steps to comply.
The union also demanded the immediate payment of two months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 industrial action, as well as one-year arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.
Ibrahim described the outstanding payments as legitimate entitlements, warning that continued delays had worsened the financial difficulties faced by university workers.
He also expressed concern over the uneven implementation of the agreement in state-owned universities, calling on state governments to provide the necessary funds for full compliance.
On university funding, SSANU called for increased investment in electricity, laboratories, workshops, libraries, ICT facilities, security and infrastructure maintenance.
The union also rejected virtual accreditation as a replacement for physical verification, stressing the importance of proper assessment of facilities in universities.
SSANU further opposed any plan to concession, privatise or transfer the management of King’s College, Lagos, or other public educational institutions to private interests.
The union called on the government to preserve public ownership and ensure continued accessibility to quality education.
Ibrahim also raised concerns over insecurity, rising living costs and food insecurity, urging the government to strengthen the protection of farming communities and educational institutions and introduce measures to safeguard workers’ incomes.
