By Kazeem Waris
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, has suspended its two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government following the release of funds for the payment of eight months’ arrears owed to its members.
The union, however, urged the Federal Government to pay other outstanding entitlements, including one-year arrears of the 25 and 35 per cent salary award for 2023- and two-months’ withheld salaries from 2022.
SSANU’s National Administrative Committee, NAC, announced the suspension after the Federal Government approved and released funds for the payment of arrears covering January to August 2026 on October 7.
The development followed a resolution at the union’s 56th National Executive Council, NEC, meeting at the University of Uyo, where members had issued a two-week ultimatum to the government to fund the implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement or face a total and indefinite strike.
The government released the funds two days after the ultimatum was issued, prompting the union to suspend the planned industrial action.
In a press statement titled, “Notification of the Suspension of the Two-Week Ultimatum Issued to the Federal Government,” SSANU said the decision was taken in recognition of the government’s response and in the interest of industrial harmony in the university system.
The statement, signed by the union’s National President, Comrade Mohamed Ibrahim, said the NAC acted on behalf of the NEC in notifying members and the public of the decision.
“In recognition of this positive development, mutual understanding and good faith, the NAC, on behalf of the NEC, has resolved to suspend the intended industrial action,” the statement said.
While welcoming the release of the eight months’ arrears, SSANU called on the Federal Government to demonstrate similar goodwill by addressing its remaining demands.
The union specifically demanded payment of the outstanding one-year arrears of the 25 and 35 per cent salary award introduced in 2023, as well as two months’ salaries withheld in 2022.
It also appealed to state governments yet to implement the signed 2026 agreement to do so and settle outstanding arrears owed to staff of state-owned universities.
SSANU said it remained committed to dialogue and constructive engagement but expected the government to take concrete steps to resolve issues affecting members across federal and state universities.
The union urged its NEC members to communicate the decision to their respective constituencies, stressing that engagement with relevant stakeholders would continue to preserve industrial peace while pursuing the welfare and legitimate interests of its members.
