ABUJA — The Federal Government has bowed to union pressure and released eight months of outstanding salary arrears owed to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), successfully averting an imminent national strike across public universities.
The swift disbursement came less than 48 hours after SSANU’s National Executive Council issued a strict 14-day ultimatum threatening a total, comprehensive, and indefinite shutdown of higher institutions over unpaid financial entitlements derived from the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement.
Confirming the payment on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, praised Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, for his proactive intervention and commitment to maintaining industrial peace within the tertiary education sector.
Comrade Ibrahim noted that the rapid resolution demonstrates that constructive engagement, when backed by decisive executive action, can build trust between trade unions and the Federal Government while safeguarding academic stability for students nationwide.
Despite welcoming the disbursement, SSANU maintained that the Federal Government must still resolve remaining obligations, including two months of salaries withheld during the 2022 strike action and one-year arrears stemming from the 25 percent and 35 percent salary upward adjustments.
The union reiterated its call on state governments and university governing councils to ensure full, non-selective implementation of all financial and non-financial components of the collective bargaining agreement to prevent future industrial unrest.
