The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has actually issued a company demand to the Federal government, requiring the conclusion of the long-awaited renegotiation of the 2009 agreement by the end of April 2026, or run the risk of an indefinite nationwide strike.
The union made this known in a communiqué launched on Sunday in Abuja following its 54th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Ekiti State University. The communiqué was signed by SSANU National President, Muhammad Ibrahim, who revealed deep disappointment over what he described as extended delays and lack of dedication from the government.
Ibrahim cautioned that failure to meet the April due date might paralyse activities across Nigerian universities. “In view of this, SSANU hereby releases a last warning to the federal government from April 1 to April 30, 2026, to conclude the renegotiation procedure and sign the agreement,” he stated. “Must the federal government fail to do so within this period, the union will have no option however to … commence an indefinite commercial action.”
The SSANU president criticised the speed of negotiations, describing them as sluggish and inconclusive, particularly for non-teaching personnel unions. He noted the lack of clear timelines and firm dedications, advising the government to reconvene discussions and conclude the procedure in a “reasonable, transparent and time-bound manner.”
Beyond the renegotiation problem, the union decried persistent hold-ups in salary payments and the non-implementation of wage increments, cautioning that the circumstance has worsened financial difficulty amongst its members. Ibrahim called for the instant settlement of exceptional incomes and advocated for the adoption of a unified payment platform such as Remita to guarantee consistency and transparency.
SSANU also raised issues over what it referred to as discriminatory practices in the disbursement of the N50 billion made allowances approved in 2022. The union alleged that some classifications of employees were excluded and firmly insisted that all eligible staff across universities and research institutes should be included without predisposition.
The union even more advised the Federal Government to resolve the more comprehensive financial difficulties impacting workers, particularly increasing inflation, by implementing wage reviews and enhancing social defense measures. It likewise highlighted chronic underfunding in the university system, connecting it to degrading facilities and decreasing service delivery.
On security, Ibrahim revealed issue over growing insecurity on campuses and nationwide, requiring improved surveillance systems and more powerful protection for both staff and trainees. He also cautioned that weak digital infrastructure and inadequate research financing could undermine Nigeria’s international scholastic competitiveness.
In addition, SSANU rejected Public-Private Collaboration (PPP) arrangements that could result in job losses and required continual engagement through a standing consultative system to avoid repeating commercial disputes.
With the April deadline quickly approaching, tension is constructing within the education sector, as stakeholders await the Federal Government’s response to prevent another possible disruption in Nigeria’s already vulnerable university system.