SSANU Threatens University Shutdown Over Four Months of Unpaid Salaries

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) may halt university operations starting tomorrow, protesting the government’s failure to pay four months of withheld salaries.

Two weeks ago, the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which includes SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), issued a deadline to the Federal Government to address the salary arrears. Despite this, no resolution has been reached.

SSANU, in a communique following its 48th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Benin, Edo State, last weekend, reiterated its intention to withdraw services if the government fails to meet the deadline. The JAC of SSANU and NASU will convene to review the government’s response and decide on the next steps.

SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, expressed frustration over what he termed as the government’s “unprecedented insensitivity” and “deliberate resolve to cause chaos in the university system.” Ibrahim accused the government of adopting a “divide and rule policy” by selectively paying the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) while neglecting other unions.

The communique stated: “NEC in session once again expresses utmost dismay at the unprecedented level of government’s insensitivity and deliberate resolve to cause chaos in the university system by adopting the divide and rule policy to set unions on a collision course through preferential treatment of one union over others.”

SSANU and other unions were compelled to strike in 2022 due to the government’s refusal to honor a Collective Bargaining Agreement. Although the strike ended with an agreement that included a non-victimization clause, the government has only selectively paid the withheld salaries, violating the agreement.