The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has called on the Federal Government to immediately release funds for the implementation of the 2026 Federal Government/SSANU Agreement and settle all outstanding salary arrears owed to its members.
The demand was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the union’s 55th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, from July 22 to 24.
Signed by SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, the communiqué described the signing of the 2026 agreement on June 29 as a major breakthrough after years of negotiations.
According to the union, the agreement provides for a 35 per cent upward review of emoluments through the Consolidated Non-Teaching Staff Allowance, improved earned allowances, enhanced staff training and development, protection of non-teaching positions, and equal career progression opportunities for qualified degree holders up to CONTISS 15.
SSANU commended the Federal Government, the renegotiation committee, relevant ministries and agencies, as well as the union’s negotiation team for successfully concluding the renegotiation process.
The union also applauded the National Universities Commission (NUC) for forwarding the agreement to public universities and inter-university centres for implementation.
However, it urged both the federal and state governments to immediately release the required funds and pay the approved arrears to ensure the agreement is fully implemented.
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SSANU further called for the activation of the agreement’s implementation monitoring committee to oversee compliance by institutions.
The union warned against the denial of negotiated benefits, delayed promotions, punitive postings or victimisation of members for participating in legitimate union activities.
It also criticised vice-chancellors and heads of tertiary institutions that are yet to implement or pay the outstanding 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase arrears, urging them to settle the payments to cushion the economic hardship facing workers.
On education funding, SSANU welcomed the HOPE-EDU Programme and the 2026 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention of about ₦2.53 billion for each public university.
The union, however, insisted that the intervention should complement, rather than replace, adequate government funding of public universities.
It also urged the Federal Government to fulfil its ₦1.3 trillion university revitalisation commitment and increase investment in infrastructure, research, digital transformation, staff development, and student and staff accommodation.
