The leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has raised alarm over the delay in the payment of February salaries to university workers across Nigeria, warning that the situation is causing severe hardship for staff and their families.
In a statement released on Thursday, SSANU national president Mohammed Ibrahim said the prolonged delay has negatively affected morale among university workers and threatens productivity across campuses.
According to him, workers who sustain the country’s university system deserve prompt remuneration for their services.
“Staff who dedicate their time and expertise to sustaining the university system deserve timely remuneration,” Ibrahim said.
Salary delay hurting university staff
Ibrahim described the development as troubling, noting that the delay is eroding confidence in the payment system used by the federal government.
He urged the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and its Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) unit to urgently resolve the issue and ensure the immediate payment of outstanding February salaries.
The union also criticised what it described as inconsistent salary payment processes within the university system. Ibrahim pointed to recent changes between the government’s GIFMIS platform and Remita for paying workers.
According to him, the constant switching of payment platforms reflects inconsistency in government policy direction.
SSANU recommended that the federal government permanently adopt Remita for university salary payments, describing the platform as more reliable and seamless.
Concerns over stalled renegotiation talks
Beyond salary delays, the union also expressed concern about the slow pace of ongoing renegotiation talks between SSANU, NASU and the federal government.
Ibrahim said although the government renegotiation committee chaired by Malam Ahmed has made efforts, discussions have yet to reach a conclusive and satisfactory outcome.
He further criticised recent comments attributed to Tunji Alausa, who reportedly suggested that industrial harmony had already been achieved within the university system.
According to the SSANU president, such remarks do not reflect the reality of ongoing negotiations and risk misleading the public about the true state of discussions.
Call for urgent government action
The union urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to demonstrate stronger commitment and leadership in resolving the issues affecting university staff.
Ibrahim also criticised what he described as the silence of the education minister on the union’s concerns, warning that it does not portray the spirit of cooperation expected during negotiations.
He stressed that the stability of Nigeria’s university system depends on not only dialogue but also the timely implementation of agreements.
SSANU called for the immediate payment of February salaries, especially as many members are currently observing Ramadan and Lent.
Strike threat looms
The union warned that failure to address the concerns could lead to further action.
“Anything short of the above will clearly invite our unions to seek redress through every legal means possible, including but not limited to withdrawal of our services and picketing of the government offices concerned,” Ibrahim said.
Despite the tensions, SSANU reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with the government in order to sustain industrial harmony and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s university system.
