From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has raised the alarm over delays in the payment of salaries, following the migration to the Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform.
In a letter addressed to the Accountant General of the Federation dated May 7, 2025, President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim called for swift action to avert potential disruption of industrial harmony within the nation’s tertiary institutions.
In the document, Ibrahim said the union members have been distressed by the consistent delays that they have been experiencing since the university-based unions transitioned from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) payment platform.
He noted that the delays violate the 2022 agreement established between the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and the Federal Government, which had initially led to the suspension of a prolonged strike.
In the letter, which was also sent to key government officials, including the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, Ibrahim reiterated assurances made in the 2022 agreement. He pledged that no union member who participated in the strike would face any form of victimisation.
The letter read: “The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) writes to express our deep concern over the consistent delay in the payment of monthly salaries of university workers, particularly since our exit from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).”
Ibrahim lamented that salaries of SSANU members are often sent two weeks later than those of other federal workers, a situation that has become increasingly distressing for union members. He characterised this recurring delay as not merely an administrative issue, but as discrimination against university workers.
SSANU’s leadership cautioned that this ongoing situation poses a significant threat to the fragile industrial peace currently experienced within Nigeria’s university system. “SSANU cannot stand by while our members are subjected to such treatment, which undermines their morale and welfare,” it stated.
The letter concluded with a call to action, urging the Accountant General’s office to urgently investigate and resolve the payment issues and ensure that university staff were paid in accordance with the federal payment schedule. “Any further delay will be interpreted as deliberate and may compel the union to take necessary steps to protect the rights and dignity of its members,” it warned.
SSANU expressed confidence in the Accountant General’s capacity for swift and just intervention in this pressing matter and stressed the importance of maintaining industrial harmony in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.