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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has suspended its planned nationwide industrial action following the Federal Government’s release of eight months’ arrears of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Teaching and Non-Teaching Allowance (CONTTA) owed to its members.
The union, however, warned that several outstanding demands remained unresolved, including one year’s arrears of the 25 and 35 per cent salary awards introduced in 2023 and two months’ salaries withheld in 2022.
SSANU National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, who announced the suspension in a notice issued at the weekend, said the decision followed the Federal Government’s approval and release of the allowance arrears covering January to August 2026.
According to him, the union’s National Administrative Committee (NAC), acting on behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC), resolved to suspend the two-week ultimatum issued to the government on October 5 following the release of the funds on October 7.
Ibrahim explained that the decision was taken in recognition of the government’s response to the union’s demands and in demonstration of SSANU’s commitment to constructive engagement, peaceful dialogue and industrial harmony in the nation’s universities.
He, however, urged the Federal Government to sustain the momentum by addressing other outstanding financial obligations to university workers, stressing that the payment of the eight months’ allowance arrears did not resolve all the issues affecting members.
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“While acknowledging this development, the union urges the Federal Government to reciprocate this gesture by fulfilling all other outstanding demands, which include the release and payment of the one-year arrears of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary awards of 2023 and the two months of the 2022 withheld salaries,” he said.
The union also called on state governments that had yet to implement the 2026 agreement to do so without further delay and settle outstanding arrears owed to workers in state-owned universities.
Ibrahim maintained that SSANU remained committed to dialogue but expected the Federal Government and state governments to demonstrate similar goodwill by taking concrete steps to address unresolved welfare issues.
“The union remains committed to dialogue but expects the government to demonstrate the same level of goodwill by taking concrete steps towards resolving all outstanding issues affecting our members across the federal and state universities,” he stated.
He directed members of the National Executive Council to communicate the decision to their respective branches and sustain engagement with relevant stakeholders to preserve industrial peace in the university system.
“All NEC members are hereby notified of this decision and are encouraged to communicate the position of the NAC accordingly.
“We must continue to engage constructively with relevant stakeholders to preserve the peace in our citadels of learning while remaining steadfast in the pursuit of the welfare and legitimate interests of our members,” Ibrahim added.
