The Federal Government has released eight months of outstanding salary arrears owed members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), averting an imminent disruption of academic activities across Nigerian universities.
The development came less than 48 hours after SSANU issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government over the implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement and payment of outstanding entitlements.
The union had demanded the immediate release of funds and full payment of outstanding Consolidated University Teaching and Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTTA) arrears calculated from January 1, 2026.
The demands were contained in a communiqué issued after the union’s 56th National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during the weekend.
SSANU had warned that failure by the Federal Government to meet its demands within 14 days would compel the union to embark on a “total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action” without further notice.
The ultimatum also included demands for payment of two months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 industrial action and one-year arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.
However, the Federal Government subsequently released eight months of the outstanding arrears.
Confirming the release, SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, said members would soon begin receiving payment alerts.
He described the development as evidence that constructive engagement, when matched with prompt action, could protect industrial harmony and workers’ welfare.
The union also commended the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, for intervening in the matter and keeping his promise to facilitate the release of the funds.
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Mohammed urged SSANU members in various university branches to liaise with their respective university managements to ensure prompt and judicious payment and report any shortfall.
According to the union, before the ultimatum was issued, Alausa had contacted its national president to confirm that the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation were processing the funds for release.
SSANU said the minister’s proactive engagement and the subsequent release of the arrears represented a departure from the delays that had characterised the implementation of previous agreements.
The union, however, maintained that the government must still settle the outstanding two months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 strike and the one-year arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.
It described the outstanding payments as legitimate entitlements that should not be subjected to further delays.
SSANU’s NEC also called on state governments and governing councils of state-owned universities to ensure full, equitable and adequately funded implementation of the agreement.
The union warned that selective or delayed implementation could trigger further unrest across the university system.
While welcoming the release of the eight months’ arrears, SSANU reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and industrial peace.
It, however, said it would continue to deploy all lawful and constitutional means to protect the rights, welfare and professional advancement of its members where agreements were not faithfully implemented.
The union said the prompt settlement of part of the arrears had strengthened confidence that constructive engagement between the government and university-based unions could produce tangible results for workers, students and the wider Nigerian university system.