SSANU gives FG Dec 31 deadline to conclude welfare negotiations

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has set a December 31 deadline for the federal government to conclude negotiations on its non-teaching staff demands.

This was communicated in a statement signed by Mohammed Ibrahim, its national president, after the union’s 53rd national executive council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Jos in Plateau state.

The communique stated that the failure to conclude negotiations by that date may lead to a nationwide shutdown in 2026.

It said: “We will not accept continued marginalisation in earned allowances and funding. Failure to conclude talks will lead to a total, system-wide shutdown next year.”

SSSANU stressed that the N50 billion agreed upon in the 2022 memorandum of understanding must be released immediately and fairly shared with all affected institutions.

The union’s communique said previous disbursements had excluded inter-university centres and research institutes, exacerbating grievances among non-teaching staff.

“Our members will not be denied their entitlements while others are prioritised. We demand fairness and inclusion in all government engagements,” it said.

SSANU also condemned rising insecurity around schools and universities, citing recent kidnappings in Niger and Kebbi states.

Ibrahim urged the government to deploy modern security technology and strengthen community-based surveillance on campuses nationwide.

“Insecurity threatens the future of education and the safety of staff. Staff must be protected with comprehensive health and life insurance,” he insisted.

The NEC also rejected a proposed public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements for municipal services, warning that such models could result in job losses and the casualisation of staff.

Ibrahim added that similar models in other sectors resulted to reduced wages and eroded institutional knowledge.

“No worker will lose their job under any policy imposed without agreement,” he said.

Ibrahim raised concerns over decaying university infrastructure, citing poor electricity supply, unsafe hostels, and obsolete laboratories.

He called for predictable funding, timely releases, and accountability mechanisms to ensure proper university maintenance.

Highlighting the economic hardships facing university workers, he said that inflation and rising costs had pushed many members into financial distress.

The union called for an urgent wage review reflecting current realities, along with targeted social protection measures for education sector workers.

“Our salaries can no longer sustain basic needs under current inflation levels. We expect immediate action to cushion workers against economic shocks,” the SSANU president said.

He said dialogue remained the union’s preference but noted that SSANU would defend its members when necessary.