SSANU gives FG 14 days to clear salary debts or face nationwide strike

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has handed the Federal Government a strict 14-day deadline to pay off outstanding salary arrears, warning of an indefinite strike if the government fails to act.

SSANU National President, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, announced the ultimatum on Monday in Abuja. The decision was reached during the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held recently in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

Ibrahim stated that the unpaid funds are legitimate earnings, and the government has no excuse to hold them back during a tough economy.

“We categorically demand the immediate release and payment of all outstanding arrears,” Ibrahim said.

He stressed that the continued delay has worsened the financial hardship facing their members. He warned that if the government ignores the 14-day window, the union will shut down university operations without any further notice.

The union is demanding for the government to pay the arrears tied to the new 2026 FGN/SSANU CONTTA salary structure, which officially took effect on January 1, 2026.

SSANU is also demanding the release of two months’ salaries that were withheld during the 2022 industrial action and also asking for a year’s worth of arrears connected to the previously agreed 25% and 35% salary increases.

Although, according to Ibrahim some proactive universities have already started paying the new salary structure using their own internally generated funds. However, many institutions are struggling because the Federal Government has not provided financial backing.

He urged state governments to properly fund state-owned universities so they can meet these financial obligations.

The union also raised serious concerns about the deteriorating state of university infrastructure, pushing for better funding for critical campus resources, and the need for reliable electricity, modern laboratories, upgraded ICT facilities, and security systems. The union also rejected the idea of replacing physical campus inspections with virtual accreditation.

Federal and state universities across Nigeria will likely shut down, if the government does not resolve these financial demands in the next two weeks.