The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a fresh warning to the Federal Government over the ongoing renegotiation process with university-based unions, insisting that discussions remain unresolved and threatening industrial action if an agreement is not reached by the end of April.
The position was outlined in a communiqué released at the end of a special meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC), held on Saturday at its national secretariat in Abuja. The meeting focused on reviewing the current state of negotiations and the concerns arising from recent developments.
According to the communiqué, signed by the union’s National President, Muhammad Ibrahim, the council reaffirmed that “the renegotiation process with the Federal Government is still ongoing and has not been concluded.”
SSANU also expressed concern over what it described as misleading information circulating in the public space, particularly reports suggesting that negotiations had already been finalised.
The union specifically referenced a letter claiming approval of a 30 per cent increase in allowances, maintaining that discussions are still in progress and that no formal agreement has been reached or signed.
NEC stated that “SSANU will not accept any outcome that falls below the negotiated understanding reached in the course of the renegotiation process, and insists that fairness, due process, and collective bargaining principles must be respected.”
Reinforcing its earlier stance under the Joint Action Committee with the Non-Academic Staff Union, SSANU maintained the ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government, giving a deadline from April 1 to April 30, 2026, for the conclusion of negotiations and formal signing of agreements.
The union warned that failure to meet this timeline would leave it with no option but to escalate its response.
The communiqué stated that SSANU “will have no alternative but to, along with NASU, commence an indefinite, comprehensive, and total industrial action.”
Members across all branches were urged to remain calm but alert, and to stay united in anticipation of any directive from the leadership.
“NEC called on all members of the Union across the branches to remain calm, vigilant, united, and prepared to fully comply with the decisions of the Union in defence of their welfare, dignity, and collective interest,” the communiqué read.
The council also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of its members, stating that the union “will continue to pursue justice with firmness, unity, and resolve.”
This latest development follows an earlier communiqué issued after SSANU’s 54th NEC meeting at Ekiti State University, where the union had expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of negotiations.
At the time, it raised additional concerns over delayed salaries, inadequate funding of universities, and worsening working conditions across the system, warning that prolonged and inconclusive talks could trigger industrial action alongside other non-teaching staff unions.
