The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has given the Federal Government of Nigeria until April 30, 2026, to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, warning that failure to meet the deadline could trigger an indefinite strike by university workers.
The union made this known on Sunday in Abuja in a communiqué issued after its 54th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Ekiti State University.
The communiqué, signed by SSANU National President, Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim, stated that the ultimatum, which runs from April 1 to April 30, 2026, had become necessary due to delays in the renegotiation process. He noted that the absence of clear timelines and firm commitments from the government could disrupt activities in universities if not urgently addressed.
Speaking further, Ibrahim warned that the union would take action if the government failed to meet its demands within the stipulated timeframe.
“SSANU hereby issues a final ultimatum to the Federal Government… Should the government fail to do so within this period, the union will have no option but to liaise with its partner in the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU to commence an indefinite industrial action,” he said.
He criticised what he described as slow and inconclusive negotiations with non-teaching unions, stressing that the government must reconvene discussions and conclude the process in a fair, transparent, and time-bound manner.
Ibrahim also raised concerns over delays in salary payments and the non-payment of increments, noting that the situation had worsened hardship among members. He called for the immediate payment of outstanding salaries and recommended the adoption of a unified salary payment platform, such as Remita.
The SSANU president further alleged that some categories of workers were excluded from the N50 billion earned allowances approved in 2022. He insisted that all eligible staff in universities and research institutes should be included without discrimination.
On the economy, Ibrahim urged the government to address rising inflation through wage reviews and stronger social protection measures to support workers.
He also decried the underfunding of universities, linking it to poor infrastructure and declining service delivery across institutions.
In addition, he raised concerns over insecurity on campuses and across the country, calling for improved surveillance and better protection for staff and students.
Ibrahim warned that weak digital infrastructure and inadequate research funding could undermine Nigeria’s global academic competitiveness.
He rejected Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements that could lead to job losses and called for sustained dialogue through a standing consultative mechanism to prevent industrial disputes.
