SSANU ISSUES APRIL ULTIMATUM TO FG, THREATENS STRIKE OVER UNRESOLVED LABOUR ISSUES
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By ‘Sefiu Ajape
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government following its 54th National Executive Council meeting held at Ekiti State University, Ekiti State, raising concerns over unresolved labour issues and worsening conditions in the nation’s university system.
In a communiqué released on March 29, 2026, the union said it “expresses grave concern over the slow pace and inconclusive nature of the ongoing renegotiation between the Federal Government and the non-teaching unions in the university system,” stressing that prolonged discussions without results are unacceptable.
The communiqué, signed by SSANU National President Muhammad Ibrahim, was issued at the end of the meeting held from March 26 to 27, 2026.
The council gave the Federal Government a firm ultimatum, stating that “SSANU hereby issues a final ultimatum to the Federal Government from 1st April, 2026 to 30th April, 2026 to conclude the renegotiation process and sign the agreement.”
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It warned that failure to meet the deadline would trigger industrial action, adding that “there will be no going back on this decision by the JAC of NASU and SSANU.”
The union also decried persistent salary delays affecting staff in federal and some state universities.
According to the communiqué, “these recurring delays have imposed severe hardship on members and their families, weakened morale, and undermined productivity across the university system.”
SSANU demanded immediate payment of outstanding salaries and called for a “reliable and unified salary payment structure,” recommending the adoption of the Remita platform.
On earned allowances, the council criticised the government’s handling of the N50bn disbursement agreed upon in 2022.
It stated that it “expresses dissatisfaction with the failure of Government to fully and fairly implement the disbursement,” and condemned “the exclusion of Inter-University Centres and Research Institutes from previous disbursements.”
Addressing broader economic challenges, the union highlighted the impact of inflation and rising living costs on workers, noting “the worsening economic hardship in the country,” and urged the government to implement wage reviews and social protection measures.
The communiqué also pointed to persistent underfunding of universities, warning that it has resulted in “decaying infrastructure, weak service delivery, and inadequate support for teaching, research, innovation, and administration.”
It called for education to be prioritised through “predictable, transparent, and adequate funding of public universities.”
On national security, SSANU expressed alarm over rising violence across the country, citing “incidents of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, and other tragic attacks,” and called for more decisive action to protect lives and property.
The council also raised concerns about safety on university campuses, urging authorities to strengthen security measures, including surveillance, lighting, and rapid response systems.
Highlighting the global competitiveness gap, SSANU warned that Nigerian universities are lagging behind due to poor digital infrastructure and limited research support, calling for urgent investment in digital transformation and innovation.
Reaffirming its position on labour matters, the union pledged continued collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress and urged members to remain “united, disciplined, vigilant, and committed to the ideals of the Union.”
The communiqué also rejected any public-private partnership arrangements that could threaten jobs, stating its opposition to reforms that may lead to “job losses, casualisation, or erosion of the rights and conditions of service of university workers.”
On the way forward, the union said, “NEC demands the immediate reconvening of the renegotiation process; prompt resolution of salary delays, withheld salaries, and increments; fair disbursement of earned allowances to all eligible workers, protection of jobs under any reform framework; and the establishment of a standing consultative mechanism between Govemment and university unions for continuous dialogue and early dispute resolution.”
In its concluding remarks, SSANU warned that continued neglect of university workers would no longer be tolerated.
“The Federal Government is hereby called upon to take immediate, sincere, and decisive steps to conclude the renegotiation process, settle all outstanding entitlements, and restore confidence in its commitment to industrial justice,” the statement read.
It added that “SSANU has demonstrated maturity, patience, and goodwill in the face of provocation and hardship,” but stressed that the union “will not hesitate to embark on decisive and lawful industrial action” if its demands are not met.
The development comes amid rising labour tensions in Nigeria’s university sector, with the Academic Staff Union of Universities recently issuing a fresh ultimatum to the Federal Government over salary implementation and welfare concerns, heightening fears of another nationwide shutdown.
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