The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) is pressing the Nigerian federal government to release the remaining three months of withheld salaries owed to non-teaching staff in federal universities, alongside nearly ₦50 billion in earned allowances.
SSANU’s national president, Mohammed Ibrahim, spoke out Friday in Abuja ahead of the union’s upcoming delegates conference.
He emphasized the urgent need for the government to honor its commitments to non-teaching university staff, warning that ongoing delays erode trust and disrupt academic stability.
Non-teaching staff unions, including SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), initiated a nationwide strike on October 28, protesting withheld wages dating back to 2022.
The federal government responded on November 2 by releasing one month of the owed salaries along with benefits for retirees, leading NASU and SSANU to temporarily suspend the strike on November 5.
However, SSANU remains firm on its demands for the full payment of outstanding dues.
“We recognize that the government has begun payment of one month from the four months of withheld salaries,” said Ibrahim, adding, “We are hopeful this marks progress toward fulfilling these commitments.”
The union is also seeking resolution on ₦50 billion in Earned Allowances, wage increases, and back pay on a 25/35 percent increment.
Ibrahim stated that the union’s delegates conference, set for November 13, will address these ongoing issues with the federal government and begin the election process for SSANU’s new leadership.
The conference theme, “Respecting Collective Bargaining Agreement and Industrial Peace in a Democracy,” reflects SSANU’s commitment to the integrity of agreements made between non-teaching staff and the government.
“We cannot afford to undermine these agreements,” Ibrahim stressed.
“The disregard for or non-implementation of these agreements only disrupts the academic environment.”