By JOAN NWAGWU

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to pay outstanding salary arrears.

SSANU National President, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, announced the ultimatum in a communique issued on Monday in Abuja, after the union’s 56th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

Ibrahim said that the meeting, held at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1, deliberated on workers’ welfare, university funding and implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement.

He said failure to meet the demand within the stipulated period would compel the union to embark on an indefinite strike without further notice.

He said the NEC demanded immediate payment of all outstanding arrears arising from implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU CONTTA salary structure, effective from Jan. 1, 2026.

“NEC categorically demanded the immediate release and payment of all outstanding arrears arising from the implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU CONTTA salary structure, calculated from the effective date of Jan. 1, 2026,” he said.

Ibrahim said some universities had implemented the salary structure largely through internally sourced funds, without direct financial backing from the Federal Government.

He urged Vice-Chancellors and Governing Councils of universities that were yet to implement the agreement to emulate institutions that had taken proactive steps toward compliance.

The SSANU president also demanded immediate payment of two months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 industrial action, alongside one-year arrears from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.

Ibrahim described the outstanding payments as “legitimate entitlements” owed affected workers saying, “continued delay had worsened the financial hardship confronting members”.

He expressed concern over uneven implementation of the agreement in state-owned universities and called on state governments to provide the necessary funding for full compliance.

On university funding, Ibrahim called for increased investment in electricity, laboratories, workshops, libraries, ICT facilities, security systems and infrastructure maintenance, while rejecting virtual accreditation as a substitute for physical verification.

He also rejected any arrangement to concession, privatise or transfer management of King’s College, Lagos, or other public educational institutions to private bodies, urging government to preserve public ownership and accessibility.

Ibrahim further expressed concern over insecurity, rising living costs and food insecurity.

He called for stronger protection of farming communities and educational institutions, including policies to protect workers’ incomes. (NAN)

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