SSANU threatens fresh strike over withheld salaries, wage disparities

By Paul Dada

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has threatened to take fresh action against the Federal Government over the remaining two months’ withheld salaries of its members who were involved the 2022 strike.

The union expressed disappointment over the government’s persistent disregard for Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and collectively bargained agreements.

The key demands of the union include the immediate release of the remaining two months’ withheld salaries of its members who participated in the 2022 strike, the harmonisation of salary disbursements across all federal and state institutions to ensure fairness and equity and the renegotiation of 2009  FG/SSANU agreement to address long-standing concerns and prevent an industrial crisis.

SSANU criticised the allocation of the ₦50 billion Earned Allowance, where only 20% (₦10 billion) was allocated to non-teaching unions, including SSANU, NASU, and NAAT. The union said the allocation was  “unjust, discriminatory, and fails to acknowledge the indispensable role SSANU members play in the effective functioning of Nigerian Universities”

The union lamented that recent economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and currency unification, have worsened the cost of living for Nigerians. SSANU calls on the government to implement targeted social protection measures, such as food subsidies, fuel vouchers, conditional cash transfers.

SSANU also expressed concern over the state of insecurity across the country, particularly in Benue, Plateau, and other states. The union urges the government to declare a national emergency on security and address the root causes of violence, including poverty, youth unemployment, and social injustice.