SSANU threatens strike over marginalisation, unpaid allowances

File photo: Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities logo.

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The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has warned that it will embark on a total and comprehensive industrial action in 2026 if the Federal Government fails to conclude renegotiations and present a “credible and realistic” offer to non-teaching staff before December 31, 2025.

The warning formed the major outcome of the association’s 53rd National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Jos, Plateau State, where SSANU reviewed the state of the nation and conditions across Nigerian universities.

In a communiqué released on Monday after the meeting and signed by its National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, the union said non-teaching staff had been repeatedly sidelined in the payment of Earned Allowances and in the government’s renegotiation processes.

Ibrahim insisted that the N50bn agreed upon in the 2022 MoU must be released without delay and that Inter-University Centres and research institutes excluded in previous disbursements must be included going forward.

He said, “NEC expressed strong dissatisfaction with the longstanding marginalisation of non-teaching staff in both the payment of Earned Allowances and the government’s renegotiation engagements. The Council insists that the ₦50 billion agreed upon in the 2022 MoU/MoA must be released without further delay and that Inter-University Centres and research institutes, wrongly excluded in previous disbursements, must be fully included in the next payment. The continued denial of financial entitlements to SSANU members is unacceptable and will attract firm, coordinated action.

“NEC further reviewed the activities of the expanded renegotiation committee and noted that the government has failed to make a substantial commitment to SSANU, even while giving preferential treatment to others.

“This pattern reflects a deliberate and persistent exclusion of non-teaching staff. The Council resolved that if the government fails to conclude credible renegotiations and present a realistic offer by December 31st, 2025, SSANU will be compelled to initiate total, comprehensive, and system-wide industrial action in 2026 to defend the rights and dignity of its members.”

Ibrahim also raised concerns about the deteriorating security situation in educational institutions, citing recent abductions in Niger and Kebbi States.

He called for improved perimeter protection, modern surveillance systems and better-resourced campus security units.

Ibrahim said, “NEC expressed deep concern over the worsening insecurity across the country, especially the spike in kidnappings targeting schools and university environments. The recent abduction of students and teachers in Niger and Kebbi States highlights a dangerous trend that threatens education at all levels.

“The Council calls on the Federal and State Governments to prioritise security in all educational institutions by deploying modern surveillance technology, strengthening perimeter protection, and improving intelligence and community-based security systems. University security architecture must be upgraded, and staff must be covered by comprehensive health and life insurance.”

On the government’s proposed public-private partnership and divestment of municipal services in universities, he warned that such measures could threaten job security, lead to casualisation and weaken service stability.

“The Council reaffirmed SSANU’s firm position that no staff must lose their jobs, be replaced, downgraded, or pushed into inferior employment conditions. NEC will not accept the introduction of any policy that will affect our members without proper engagement and a comprehensive labour impact assessment exercise involving all stakeholders.

“Any attempt to impose PPP measures without safeguarding staff welfare will be met with decisive resistance from the union”, it added.

Beyond the university system, he urged coordinated government action to rebuild public systems, support farmers, strengthen health surveillance and invest in climate-resilient infrastructure.

He said, “NEC reviewed the broader national landscape and noted the mounting pressures facing the country, especially the collapse of critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure. Public health systems remain overstretched, with weak disease surveillance and inadequate emergency response mechanisms.

“Meanwhile, food insecurity has reached dangerous levels, with over 27 million Nigerians currently affected, compounded by widespread flooding that has displaced communities and destroyed livelihoods.

“In light of these challenges, the Council calls for urgent, coordinated national action to rebuild essential systems. This includes strengthening healthcare delivery, supporting farmers with inputs and secure access to farmland, upgrading water and sanitation networks, and making sustained investments in climate-resilient infrastructure. NEC emphasises that without decisive intervention, these national crises will continue to deepen hardship for citizens and undermine long-term development.”

The PUNCH journalist, Solomon, has five years experience covering crime, judiciary and defence beats.

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