SSANU Issues Strike Warning to Federal Government Over Unresolved Agreements
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a fresh ultimatum to the Federal Government, threatening to commence a nationwide industrial action if their demands are not met by April 30, 2026. This warning follows a meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) held over the weekend, where members expressed deep frustration over the slow pace of negotiations regarding the 2009 agreement and several other outstanding welfare issues.
At the heart of the brewing crisis is the demand for the full payment of withheld salaries and the implementation of the new salary structure for non-academic staff. SSANU leadership noted that while there have been several discussions with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour, there has been a lack of concrete action or a signed document that guarantees the fulfillment of these promises.
The union specifically addressed reports circulating in some media outlets regarding a 30% allowance increase, describing such information as misleading. SSANU clarified that no final agreement has been reached on such a percentage and cautioned the government against using “media propaganda” to divide the union members. The leadership maintains that until a binding, written agreement is produced and verified, the threat of a strike remains on the table.
Beyond salary concerns, the union is also pushing for increased funding for state-owned universities and an end to the “proliferation” of institutions that governments cannot adequately maintain. They argued that the current state of infrastructure and staff welfare across Nigerian campuses has reached a breaking point, making industrial harmony difficult to sustain.
As the month-end deadline approaches, the academic community is watching closely. A strike by SSANU would shut down administrative offices, bursaries, and registry departments across the country, effectively grounding all university activities. The union has urged the Federal Government to use the remaining days of April to finalize all pending issues to avoid a total collapse of the university administrative system.