The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has urged the Federal and State Governments to immediately release funds for the implementation of the newly signed 2026 agreement.
The union made the demand in a communiqué issued at the end of its 55th National Executive Council meeting held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, from July 22 to 24, 2026.
The communiqué, signed by the National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, described the June 29, 2026 signing of the Federal Government-SSANU agreement as a “landmark achievement” after years of negotiations.
According to the union, the agreement provides for a 35 per cent upward review of salaries through the Consolidated Non-Teaching Staff Salary Structure, improved earned allowances, enhanced staff training and development, protection of non-teaching positions, and equal career progression opportunities for qualified degree holders up to CONTISS 15.
The communiqué read, “The implementation of the agreement must be done promptly, fully and without encroachment or discrimination.
“The union urged both the Federal and State Governments to urgently release the funds for the implementation and payment of arrears of the approved review to our members without further delay.”
It also called for the immediate activation of the Implementation Monitoring Committee provided for in the agreement to ensure compliance and address any violations.
SSANU warned universities against denying members negotiated benefits or victimising staff over legitimate union activities.
“NEC seriously warned against the denial of negotiated benefits, punitive postings, delayed promotions, harassment or any form of victimisation arising from members’ participation in lawful union activities,” the communiqué read.
The council further clarified that the agreement applies only to constitutionally recognised SSANU members and directed branches to maintain accurate membership records while reporting cases of marginalisation or non-compliance through the union’s structures.
On the payment of outstanding salary arrears, SSANU commended vice-chancellors and heads of institutions that had fully or partially implemented the payment of the outstanding 25 and 35 per cent salary increase arrears.
However, it criticised institutions yet to comply.
“Council frowns at Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Institutions that are yet to implement or pay arrears of the 25 per cent /35 per cent salary increase and hereby urges them to do the same without further delay to enhance staff motivation and cushion the effect of economic hardship,” it stated.
The union also welcomed the Federal Government’s HOPE-EDU programme and the 2026 Tertiary Education Trust Fund intervention of about ₦2.53bn allocated to each public university.
Nevertheless, SSANU maintained that TETFund interventions should not replace statutory government funding.
“The Council stressed that TETFund is supplementary and must not replace adequate government funding, regular budgetary releases and the fulfilment of the ₦1.3tn public university revitalisation commitment,” it said.
The union urged the government to publish a transparent account of education funds released and channel more investments into staff and student accommodation, laboratories, electricity, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, research and staff development.
On the economy, SSANU expressed concern that the slight decline in headline inflation from 15.93 per cent in May to 15.91 per cent in June had not improved workers’ living conditions, noting that food inflation rose from 16.96 per cent to 17.52 per cent during the same period.
It called on the government to restore workers’ purchasing power through improved pensions, affordable housing, better transportation and stronger social protection while ensuring that the country’s new tax framework remains fair and transparent.
The union also condemned the rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, insurgency and communal violence affecting schools, universities, highways and farming communities.
While commending security agencies for rescuing abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, SSANU expressed concern that 42 children reportedly abducted in Mussa town, Borno State, had remained missing for more than two months.
“The Council demanded equal urgency, mobilisation, sympathy and support for victims in every part of Nigeria, stressing that the life of every Nigerian citizen has equal value,” the communiqué stated.
On the proposed establishment of state police, SSANU supported ongoing constitutional efforts to decentralise policing but insisted that adequate constitutional safeguards must be put in place to prevent political abuse, intimidation of workers, journalists and trade unionists.
It also called on universities to strengthen campus security through perimeter fencing, surveillance systems, improved lighting, emergency communication facilities and stronger collaboration with security agencies.
The union further backed genuine local government autonomy anchored on democratic elections, transparent financial management and public accountability.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, SSANU urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, political parties and security agencies to ensure transparent and credible polls while protecting university staff involved in election duties.
The council also condemned corruption, selective justice and abuse of public institutions, urging anti-corruption agencies to operate independently and professionally while respecting the rule of law.
It called for fairness in public appointments, employment and resource distribution in line with the federal character principle.
Reaffirming its commitment to industrial harmony and national development, SSANU said it would continue to monitor the implementation of the 2026 agreement through advocacy, research and constructive engagement with relevant stakeholders.
The union called on governments at all levels to faithfully implement agreements reached with university workers to sustain peace and stability within Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The 2026 Federal Government-SSANU agreement ended years of protracted negotiations between the government and non-teaching university workers over improved welfare and conditions of service.
The agreement followed months of engagement by the Federal Government’s Expanded Renegotiation Committee led by former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mahmud Ahmed.
The pact comes amid broader reforms in Nigeria’s university system, including increased TETFund interventions, the rollout of the HOPE-EDU programme and ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to improve infrastructure, staff welfare and industrial harmony across public tertiary institutions.
The agreement is also expected to complement recent increases in hazard allowances and other welfare packages approved for university workers as part of efforts to curb industrial disputes and improve service delivery in higher education.