The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has lamented the delay in paying February salaries to university workers in federal universities.

The union, in a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, said the delay has created significant financial strain for its members and their families.

The union also urged the federal government team to accelerate the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 agreement process with non-teaching university unions to bring it to a credible and conclusive end.

According to SSANU, beyond the personal hardship it imposes, the delay in salary payment was steadily eroding confidence in the system, lowering staff morale, and inevitably affecting productivity and overall institutional performance within our universities.

“Staff who dedicate their time and expertise to sustaining the university system deserve timely remuneration for their services,” the statement said.

It added, “SSANU considers this development deeply troubling and calls on the relevant authorities, especially the GIFMIS office in the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) to urgently address the delay and ensure the immediate payment of February salaries to restore confidence and stability within the university system.

“Investigations conducted reveal that the inconsistent approach in handling payment of Universities staff salaries, which involved jumping from GIFMIS to REMITA and back in the last few months, has clearly shown the government’s inconsistency in policy direction. We recommend that the government should consider adopting the REMITA platform as the channel for paying university workers’ salaries because of its seamless and reliable nature.

“Furthermore, SSANU expresses serious concern over the slow pace of the ongoing renegotiation process between SSANU, NASU, and the Federal Government. While we acknowledge the efforts of the Chairman of the Federal Government Renegotiation Committee, Mal. Yayale Ahmed, whose leadership and commitment have contributed to the progress made so far, the overall process has yet to reach a conclusive and satisfactory resolution.

“SSANU is particularly concerned by recent public comments attributed to the Honourable Minister of Education, suggesting that industrial harmony has been fully achieved within the university system and that all union concerns have been addressed. Such statements do not accurately reflect the current realities of the renegotiation process and risk creating a misleading impression among the public.

“While we recognise and appreciate the contributions of stakeholders working towards a resolution, SSANU believes that the Ministry of Education must demonstrate stronger commitment, urgency, and leadership to ensure that the renegotiation process reaches a logical and mutually acceptable conclusion.

“For us at this point, the silence of the Honourable Minister of Education is no longer golden, nor does it portray camaraderie.

“The stability of Nigeria’s university system depends not only on dialogue but also on the timely implementation of agreements and responsible communication with the public.”

SSANU therefore called on the Federal Government to ensure the immediate payment of the outstanding February 2026 salaries of federal university staff.

The union urged the government to provide clear and accurate information to the public regarding the true status of negotiations.

“Anything short of the above will clearly invite our unions to seek redress in every legal means possible, including but not limited to withdrawal of our services and picketing of government offices concerned.

“SSANU remains committed to constructive engagement with the Federal Government in the interest of sustaining industrial harmony and protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s university system,” the statement added. (The Nation)