The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has called on the Federal and State Governments to immediately release funds for the implementation of the newly signed 2026 agreement, including the payment of outstanding salary arrears, warning that any delay or discrimination against its members would be unacceptable.
The demand was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the union’s 55th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, from July 22 to 24, 2026.
The communiqué, signed by SSANU National President, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, described the June 29, 2026 agreement between the Federal Government and the union as a landmark achievement after years of negotiations.
According to SSANU, the agreement provides for a 35 percent upward review of salaries under the Consolidated Non-Teaching Staff Salary Structure (CONTISS), improved earned allowances, enhanced staff training and development, protection of non-teaching positions, and equal career progression opportunities for qualified degree holders up to CONTISS 15.
The union insisted that the agreement must be implemented promptly, fully, and without discrimination, urging both the Federal and State Governments to immediately release funds for the payment of approved salary reviews and arrears.
SSANU also called for the immediate inauguration of the Implementation Monitoring Committee provided for in the agreement to oversee compliance and address any violations.
The union warned university authorities against denying members negotiated benefits or victimising staff for participating in legitimate union activities, including punitive postings, delayed promotions, harassment, or any form of intimidation.
It clarified that the agreement applies only to constitutionally recognised SSANU members and directed its branches nationwide to maintain accurate membership records while reporting cases of marginalisation through the union’s established structures.
On outstanding salary arrears, SSANU commended vice-chancellors and heads of institutions that have fully or partially implemented the payment of the 25 and 35 percent salary increase arrears. However, it criticised institutions that are yet to comply, urging them to settle the outstanding payments without further delay to boost staff morale amid prevailing economic hardship.
The union welcomed the Federal Government’s HOPE-EDU programme and the 2026 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention, which allocates about ₦2.53 billion to each public university. However, it stressed that TETFund interventions should remain supplementary and must not replace statutory government funding or the fulfillment of the ₦1.3 trillion public university revitalisation commitment.
SSANU further urged the government to provide a transparent account of education funds released and invest more in staff and student accommodation, laboratories, electricity, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, research, and staff development.
Expressing concern over the nation’s economy, the union noted that although headline inflation declined slightly from 15.93 percent in May to 15.91 percent in June, workers had yet to experience any meaningful relief, pointing out that food inflation increased from 16.96 percent to 17.52 percent within the same period.
It therefore called on the government to restore workers’ purchasing power through improved pensions, affordable housing, better transportation, stronger social protection programmes, and a fair and transparent tax system.
On security, SSANU condemned the rising incidents of kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, and communal violence affecting schools, universities, highways, and farming communities.
While commending security agencies for rescuing abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, the union expressed concern that 42 children reportedly abducted in Mussa town, Borno State, have remained missing for more than two months.
The union urged the government to demonstrate equal commitment to protecting all Nigerians regardless of location, insisting that every Nigerian life is of equal value.
SSANU also backed ongoing constitutional efforts to establish state police but called for adequate safeguards to prevent political abuse, intimidation of workers, journalists, and trade unionists.
Additionally, the union urged universities to strengthen campus security through improved perimeter fencing, surveillance systems, adequate lighting, emergency communication facilities, and stronger collaboration with security agencies. It also reaffirmed its support for genuine local government autonomy based on democratic elections, transparent financial management, and public accountability.
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