The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has called on the Federal Government to urgently harmonise salary disbursements across all federal and state-owned tertiary institutions to promote equity and fairness among university staff.
This demand was contained in a communiqué issued on Monday by SSANU National President, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, at the conclusion of the union’s 51st National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State.
According to Ibrahim, the NEC strongly condemned the continued delay in the payment of salaries to university workers, which often occurs weeks after other federal employees have been paid. He described the situation as “discriminatory, unjust and unacceptable,” insisting that the disparity must be addressed immediately.
“The union demands the immediate harmonisation of salary disbursements across all federal and state institutions to ensure fairness and equity,” he said.
Ibrahim also criticised the government’s continued withholding of two months’ salaries owed to SSANU members who participated in the 2022 nationwide strike. He urged the Federal Government to release the outstanding payments without further delay as a goodwill gesture to restore industrial harmony within the university system.
The SSANU president expressed deep concern over the Federal Government’s persistent failure to honour Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), Memoranda of Action (MoAs), and other collective agreements negotiated with the union.
“These agreements were reached through structured dialogue and mutual consent. They are binding and must be respected in full,” he said. “NEC warns that if this pattern of neglect continues, the union will have no choice but to explore all lawful and appropriate means to compel compliance.”
Ibrahim also decried the “inequitable and negligible” allocation of the ₦50 billion Earned Allowance, of which only 20 per cent was allocated to the three non-teaching unions—SSANU, NASU, and NAAT. He described the move as unjust and discriminatory, arguing that it ignored the essential contributions of non-teaching staff to the day-to-day operations of universities.
He further stated that the allocation was in breach of the August 2022 MoU signed with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU. “NEC calls for a redress of this injustice meted to our members in universities and inter-university centres,” he said.
On other issues, Ibrahim expressed disappointment over the silence of the Federal Government’s Renegotiation Committee on the 2009 FG/SSANU Agreement and other unresolved matters affecting SSANU members.
He also urged the government to urgently address the country’s deteriorating economy, rising cost of living, and increasing insecurity, particularly the recent mass killings in Benue, Plateau and other states.
He concluded by reaffirming SSANU’s commitment to national development, adding that the union is ready to support reforms in the education sector by offering its professional expertise in service of the nation.
