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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government has released funds for eight months’ salary arrears owed members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in a bid to avert a threatened strike, although the union says other outstanding entitlements remain unpaid.
The release came less than 48 hours after SSANU issued a 14-day ultimatum over the implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement and payment of outstanding entitlements.
In a statement on Wednesday, SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, commended the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, for his intervention in securing the funds.
He urged members to liaise with their university managements to ensure prompt payment and report any shortfall to the union.
SSANU had issued the ultimatum after its 56th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, demanding immediate payment of salary arrears calculated from January 1, 2026.
The demands also included two months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 industrial action and one-year arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.
The union warned that failure to meet its demands within 14 days would compel it to embark on a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike without further notice.
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Confirming the release, Ibrahim said the development demonstrated that constructive engagement, backed by prompt action, could preserve industrial harmony and protect workers’ welfare.
He commended Alausa for keeping his promise to facilitate the release of the funds.
According to SSANU, before the ultimatum was issued, the minister had contacted Ibrahim to confirm that the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation were processing the funds.
The union said the minister’s engagement and the subsequent release represented a departure from delays that had characterised the implementation of agreements with university-based unions.
However, SSANU stressed that the release of the eight months’ arrears did not settle all the Federal Government’s obligations.
It demanded payment of the two months’ withheld salaries and the one-year arrears from the salary increases, describing them as legitimate entitlements that should not be subjected to further delay.
The union also urged state governments and governing councils of state-owned universities to ensure full, equitable and adequately funded implementation of the agreement, warning that selective or delayed implementation could trigger fresh unrest.
While reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and industrial peace, SSANU said it would deploy all lawful and constitutional means to protect its members’ rights, welfare and professional advancement where agreements were not faithfully implemented.
