The Federal Government has released eight months’ salary arrears owed to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), less than 48 hours after the union issued a 14-day ultimatum over unpaid entitlements.
SSANU confirmed the release on Wednesday, welcoming the intervention while maintaining that other outstanding payments are yet to be settled.
The union had, after its 56th National Executive Council meeting at the University of Uyo, demanded payment of arrears arising from the implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU agreement.
It had warned that failure to address its demands within 14 days could lead to a “total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action”.
SSANU President, Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, said the release of the eight months’ arrears showed that dialogue could produce results when followed by prompt action.
He particularly commended the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, for intervening and facilitating the release of the funds.
SSANU said that before the ultimatum was made public, Alausa had contacted Ibrahim to confirm that the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation were processing the payment.
The union urged its members to liaise with the management of their respective universities to ensure that the released funds were paid promptly and accurately, and to report any shortfall.
However, SSANU said the latest payment did not settle all its outstanding claims.
The union is still demanding two months’ salaries withheld during its 2022 industrial action, as well as one-year arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.
It described the outstanding payments as legitimate entitlements and called for their settlement without further delay.
SSANU also urged state governments and governing councils of state-owned universities to ensure full implementation of the agreement, warning that selective or delayed implementation could create further tension in the university system.
While welcoming the Federal Government’s intervention, the union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and industrial peace.
It, however, said it would use lawful and constitutional means to protect the rights and welfare of its members if outstanding agreements were not fully implemented.
The release of the eight months’ arrears has eased the immediate threat of industrial action, although the union’s remaining claims remain unresolved.
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