SSANU rejects Fed Govt’s 30 per cent allowance deal
• Union sets April 30 deadline The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has served the Federal Government with a strike notice. The union threatened to embark on an
• Union sets April 30 deadline
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has served the Federal Government with a strike notice.
The union threatened to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike if the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement is not concluded by the end of this month.
It dismissed reports of an approved 30 per cent allowance increase, describing it as misleading and a breach of due process.
SSANU stated these among its resolutions in a communiqué it released after its Special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on April 18 in Abuja.
The communique signed by SSANU’s National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, indicated that negotiations with the Federal Government were still ongoing and far from conclusion.
The SSANU president said the union had held at least seven meetings with the government’s negotiating team since October 2024, addressing financial and non-financial issues affecting members’ welfare.
The NEC expressed concern over what it called attempts to mislead the public into believing that talks had been finalised.
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The union leader said circulating information about a purported 30 per cent allowance approval undermined the collective bargaining process.
He stressed that no agreement is valid until formally concluded and endorsed by both parties.
Throwing more light on the matter, Ibrahim explained that discussions remained in progress and that no binding agreement had been reached.
The union leader said negotiations cover both monetary and non-monetary components that directly impact members’ welfare and working conditions.
He described the alleged approval of allowances as shocking, adding that it was inappropriate for any individual or group to claim that a final decision had been taken while talks were still ongoing.
Ibrahim reaffirmed SSANU’s commitment to lawful engagement, insisting that the process must follow established collective bargaining procedures.
According to him, any attempt to impose terms outside that framework will be resisted.
SSANU, alongside the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), had earlier issued a 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to conclude negotiations before the end of April.
Reiterating that position, Ibrahim said the union would mobilise its members to withdraw services across all public universities and inter-university centres—both federal and state-owned—if the deadline is not met.
He added that mobilisation efforts were being extended to polytechnics and colleges of education, citing concerns over alleged attempts to create division among tertiary institution workers.
The SSANU president also highlighted the critical contributions of non-teaching staff to the smooth operation of universities.
Ibrahim noted that SSANU’s members handle key administrative and support services, including admissions processing, result management, the NYSC mobilisation, healthcare, security, and institutional administration.
The SSANU president questioned what he called the persistent marginalisation of non-academic staff, stressing that they play a central role in sustaining the university system.
He also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, asking the government to listen to the demands of university workers and ensure a fair outcome.
Ibrahim maintained that its members remain united and resolute, warning that they would not accept any outcome that falls short of negotiated expectations.
