SSANU Gives Federal Government December 31 Deadline To End Talks On Demands

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has given the Federal Government until December 31, 2025, to conclude the ongoing renegotiation of its agreement with the union.

SSANU warned that universities across the country will be shut down indefinitely from January 2026 if the talks remain unresolved.

The ultimatum was issued in a statement on Monday after the Union’s 53rd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Jos.

The document, signed by the National President, Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, accused the federal government of showing little commitment to resolving issues affecting non-teaching staff in universities.

According to the statement, SSANU alleged that its members have been repeatedly sidelined, particularly in the payment of Earned Allowances and in the ongoing renegotiation process.

SSANU insisted that the N50 billion agreed between the Union and the government in the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) be released without further delay.

The union also demanded that Inter-University Centres and relevant research institutes excluded from previous disbursements be fully included in the next round of payments.

SSANU cautioned that failure to conclude a “credible and fair” renegotiation before the end of December would leave the union with no choice but to embark on a total and comprehensive industrial action.

The union further expressed concern over the rising cases of school kidnappings, noting that the recent abductions in Kebbi and Niger States reflect a deepening security crisis around educational institutions.

It urged the government to strengthen security across campuses through enhanced surveillance systems, fortified perimeter fencing, and improved intelligence gathering.

SSANU also rejected a proposal by the Federal Ministry of Education to introduce Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models for municipal services in universities, arguing that similar arrangements in other sectors had resulted in job losses and deteriorating working conditions.

The union maintained that no staff should lose their jobs or be downgraded under any PPP initiative.

The statement highlighted the worsening condition of infrastructure across universities, citing erratic electricity supply, failing water systems, dilapidated hostels, obsolete laboratories and weak security structures. It called for predictable funding mechanisms, timely release of allocations and more stringent monitoring of resource utilisation.

Citing rising inflation and soaring fuel prices deepening the economic hardship faced by university workers, SSANU demanded an urgent wage review that reflects current economic realities.