Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, don give Federal Government 14-day ultimatum to release funds for implementation of the recently signed 2026 Agreement and pay outstanding arrears. If Federal Government no do am, SSANU go shut down universities.
But Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, dey move to avert any strike. He assure say funds go release on or before next week.
SSANU take decision to down tools if funds no release at its 56th National Executive Council, NEC, meeting wey hold for University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, at weekend.
For communiqué issued at end of meeting and signed by national president, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU note say arrears na legitimate financial entitlements of affected members and must pay in full without further delay.
Communiqué talk say meeting deliberate extensively on developments affecting Nigerian university system, welfare of members of union and other issues of national importance, including implementation of 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement, funding of universities, security, economy and cost of living, public education, accreditation of university programmes, food security, technology and cybersecurity, energy, rule of law and general state of nation.
It talk say after exhaustive deliberations, NEC acknowledge say implementation of 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement, which take effect from January 1, 2026, notwithstanding its formal signing on June 29, 2026, don start for some universities.
NEC, however, express serious concern say implementation remains incomplete and uneven across university system because of funding and administrative challenges.
NEC categorically demand immediate release and payment of all outstanding arrears arising from implementation of 2026 FGN/SSANU CONTTA salary structure, calculated from effective date of January 1, 2026.
NEC stress say these arrears constitute legitimate financial entitlements of affected members and must pay in full without further delay. NEC also observe say universities wey don implement CONTTA salary structure do am largely through internally sourced funds, without direct cash backing from Federal Government.
NEC call on vice-chancellors and governing councils of universities wey never implement financial and non-financial components of 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement to draw lessons from institutions wey take proactive steps to implement Agreement in interest of staff welfare, industrial harmony and improved organisational performance.
Conclusively, NEC for session, after exhaustive deliberations on continued non-release of funds for implementation of 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement, issue Federal Government 14-day ultimatum to release required funds and ensure full payment of all outstanding CONTTA arrears.
NEC stress say members don wait sufficiently for benefits of Agreement already concluded and therefore demand immediate and full compliance within stipulated period.
However, SSANU president inform say Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, assure them say Office of Accountant-General of Federation dey work hard to ensure funds release by next week at latest.
Comrade Mohammed talk say release of funds, as promised, before expiration of 14-day ultimatum go avert situation. He talk say he receive call from Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, just before press briefing, informing him of current progress being made on release of money.
He talk say Minister confirm to him say Director of Funds in Federal Ministry of Finance and Accountant-General’s Office don confirm say money go release on or before next week. He talk say they hope this will be done. And if that is done, it will avert the situation. Otherwise, ultimatum stands.
On payment of outstanding two months’ withheld salaries and one-year arrears of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases, NEC express serious concern over continued non-payment of remaining two months’ salaries withheld during 2022 industrial action and categorically demand immediate release and payment of outstanding two months’ salaries to all affected members.
SSANU NEC further demand immediate release and payment of outstanding one-year arrears arising from 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases, stressing say these are legitimate entitlements due to affected university workers and should no longer be subjected to further delay.
NEC therefore call on Federal Government to take immediate steps to settle these outstanding obligations in full, in order to address financial hardship being experienced by affected members and demonstrate commitment to welfare of university workers.
SSANU express concern over uneven implementation of Agreement in state-owned universities and note varying experiences across institutions, including developments in Ondo, Delta and Kaduna states.
NEC strongly call on state governments and governing councils of state universities to ensure full and equitable implementation of Agreement and provide necessary funding for its execution. NEC maintain say staff of state universities must not be treated as lesser partners in Nigerian University System and caution say selective or delayed implementation could undermine industrial harmony.
