The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a strong appeal to the Federal Government to address longstanding grievances affecting non-academic staff across the country’s universities, citing persistent salary disparities, broken agreements, and government neglect.
The union’s demands were made public in a communiqué released after its 51st National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano. Signed by SSANU’s National President, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, the document condemned what it described as unfair salary payment practices in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
SSANU criticised the recurrent delays in disbursing salaries to staff in federal universities, pointing out that non-academic workers often receive their wages weeks after other federal employees have been paid. The union described this as unjust and unacceptable, calling for immediate harmonisation of salary payments across both federal and state institutions to preserve industrial peace.
A major point of contention remains the federal government’s continued withholding of two months’ salaries owed to SSANU members who participated in the 2022 strike. The union urged the government to release the outstanding payments without delay, warning that failure to do so could further deepen tensions on campuses.
SSANU also expressed frustration over the government’s repeated failure to honour agreements reached with the union, including various Memoranda of Understanding and Action. It stressed that these agreements are legally binding and must be respected in full, warning that the union might have no choice but to pursue lawful measures to compel compliance.
Another flashpoint is the recent release of ₦50 billion for Earned Allowances, of which only ₦10 billion—or 20%—was allocated to non-teaching staff unions such as SSANU, NASU, and NAAT. The union condemned this allocation as unfair and inconsistent with a 2022 agreement signed between the government and the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU, insisting that non-academic staff play a crucial role in university operations.
Equally troubling for the union is the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 FG/SSANU Agreement. The NEC criticised the government’s silence on the matter, demanding immediate action to resume and conclude the process to prevent a looming industrial crisis.
Beyond university-specific issues, SSANU’s communiqué also touched on national concerns, including insecurity and economic hardship. The union expressed alarm over escalating violence, particularly in Benue, Plateau, and other parts of the country, and urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on security and overhaul the nation’s security infrastructure.
On economic matters, SSANU criticised the government’s reform policies, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and currency unification, stating these measures have worsened inflation and eroded workers’ purchasing power. The union called for the introduction of social welfare measures, including food subsidies, fuel vouchers, and targeted cash transfers, to help vulnerable Nigerians cope with rising living costs.
The communiqué also highlighted concerns about climate-related disasters, criticising what it sees as inadequate responses from environmental agencies. The union urged the federal government to develop a robust national disaster management framework to protect at-risk communities.
In its closing remarks, SSANU reaffirmed its commitment to promoting fairness, professionalism, and sound governance within the university system. However, it warned that continued neglect of its demands could jeopardise the fragile industrial peace currently prevailing in the higher education sector.
