The Federal Government has released eight months’ salary arrears owed members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), barely 24 hours after the union issued a 14-day ultimatum over the unpaid arrears.
SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed the development to Channels Television, saying the release followed the two-week ultimatum issued by the association.
According to him, the prompt intervention demonstrated the responsiveness of the Federal Government and the commitment of the Minister of Education to honouring agreements reached with university-based unions.
The development came barely 24 hours after SSANU threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if the government failed to address its outstanding financial demands.
At its 56th National Executive Council meeting at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, SSANU had demanded the immediate release of funds to affected universities and full implementation of arrears arising from the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement.
The union said the agreement took effect from January 1, 2026, although it was formally signed on June 29, and complained that its implementation remained incomplete in some universities due to funding and administrative challenges.
SSANU had warned that failure to meet its demands within 14 days would compel it to commence a “total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action” without further notice.
However, Ibrahim said the planned industrial action had now been averted following the release of the eight months’ salary arrears.
The latest development is part of a longer-running dispute over withheld salaries. In October 2024, SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) commenced an indefinite nationwide strike over the payment of four months’ withheld salaries.
The unions had accused the Federal Government of paying withheld salaries to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) while leaving non-academic staff without the same payment.