•Demands urgent action
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has raised the alarm over the state of Nigeria’s university system. It cites issues such as underfunding, delayed salaries, excessive taxation, and rising insecurity. These concerns were highlighted in a communiqué issued at the end of its 50th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held at the Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, from February 24 to 26, 2025.
Declaring the session open, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Otuoke, Prof. Teddy Charles Adias, welcomed SSANU representatives from about 80 federal and state universities.
The union deliberated extensively on matters affecting university workers and resolved to demand urgent government intervention.
According to a communique signed by its National President, Comrade Mohamed Haruna Ibrahim, a key grievance was the inconsistency in salary payments due to the migration to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS). “Some universities have started shortchanging their staff by paying incomplete salaries and withholding third-party deductions in flagrant disobedience of financial regulations,” SSANU stated.
The delay in the release of the N50 billion meant for earned and other allowances also drew the union’s ire. Despite being appropriated in the 2023 supplementary budget, the funds have yet to be disbursed, affecting both federal and state university workers. “Government should ensure that the Fifty Billion Naira earlier appropriated should be recaptured in the 2025 budget, and our other pending allowances should be released without further delay,” the communiqué emphasized.
SSANU acknowledged the federal government’s payment of two out of four months’ withheld salaries but insisted that the outstanding balance be paid. The union also noted that third-party deductions, including cooperative contributions and professional dues, were not remitted along with the two months’ payments. “We appeal to the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, to facilitate the payment of our remaining two months’ salaries and third-party deductions to guarantee industrial harmony,” SSANU stated.
Sexual harassment in universities was another critical issue that dominated discussions. The union condemned the rising cases of harassment and expressed concern over allegations involving the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Abayomi Fashina. “SSANU is closely monitoring developments, and anything short of justice for our harassed members will be unacceptable,” the union warned.
Workers’ welfare was another major focus, with SSANU lamenting excessive taxation and inflationary pressures that have eroded workers’ earnings. “The hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) and numerous unexplainable tariffs have rendered the seventy-thousand-naira minimum wage increase useless and of no effect,” the union declared, urging the government to introduce a more worker-friendly tax regime.
The union acknowledged recent improvements in electricity supply but criticized the exorbitant rates imposed on consumers. It noted that many universities still rely on generators due to their inability to afford rising electricity bills. “It is unacceptable that Bayelsa State, where Nigeria’s first oil well was discovered, remains unconnected to the national grid,” SSANU lamented, calling on the federal government to resolve the issue.
Insecurity across the country was another grave concern, with SSANU expressing alarm over the increase in kidnappings, banditry, and other violent crimes. “Both the federal and state governments must be alive to their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and properties,” the communiqué stated, urging immediate action.
Nigeria’s road network also came under scrutiny, with SSANU describing the country’s highways as death traps. The union condemned the neglect of critical infrastructure, which has worsened road travel conditions and encouraged extortion by security agencies and vigilante groups. It urged both state and federal authorities to prioritize road rehabilitation and development.
SSANU also frowned upon the failure of several state governments to implement the new minimum wage. While federal universities have begun to align salaries accordingly, many state university workers are yet to benefit from the wage increase. “We call on all defaulting state governments to do the needful and bring workers in state universities up to pace with their counterparts in federal institutions,” the union demanded.
The union’s resolutions reflect the broader struggles of Nigerian university workers, who continue to bear the brunt of economic hardship and policy inconsistencies. With salaries delayed, allowances unpaid, and inflationary pressures mounting, SSANU’s warnings serve as a wake-up call for urgent government intervention in the education sector.
As the meeting ended, SSANU reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of its members while emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue with the government. However, the union made it clear that failure to address these pressing concerns could lead to disruptions in the university system. “We will not hesitate to take further actions if our demands are ignored,” SSANU warned, signaling a possible showdown in the coming months.
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