The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has called on the Federal Government to fully implement its 2026 agreement, including payment of all accrued arrears from January 1, 2026.
The National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, made the demand in his State of the Union address at the union’s 56th National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from September 30 to October 1, 2026.
Ibrahim said that while some universities had begun implementing the agreement, while others had yet to fully do so because of funding and administrative challenges.
He said the union would not accept unnecessary delays, selective implementation, marginalisation, or any attempt to reduce the agreement’s financial and non-financial provisions.
According to him, the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement took effect from January 1, 2026, although it was formally signed on June 29, 2026.
He urged the Federal Government to release the necessary funds to affected universities and inter-university centres to enable full implementation and payment of outstanding arrears.
‘Implementation cannot be considered complete while legitimate arrears due to our members remain unpaid,’ Ibrahim said.
The SSANU president also called on state governments and authorities of state-owned universities to fully implement the agreement, citing uneven implementation in Ondo, Delta and Kaduna states.
He said the union would continue to demand fairness and equal treatment for its members across state universities.
Ibrahim further warned against victimisation of members over lawful union activities, saying denial of negotiated benefits, punitive postings, delayed promotions, harassment and discriminatory treatment would not be tolerated.
On university accreditation, he cautioned against excessive reliance on virtual inspections, arguing that physical verification remained necessary to assess laboratories, workshops, libraries, equipment, staffing and teaching facilities.
He said digital technology should complement, not replace, rigorous physical verification in accrediting university programmes.
The SSANU leader also said the union was strengthening its digital capacity through its official website and SSANU Management Information System to improve membership verification, records management, and access to union services.
He urged branches to remit check-off dues promptly and maintain proper financial records, stressing that financial discipline was essential to the union’s independence and effectiveness.
Ibrahim said the 56th NEC meeting would focus on consolidating progress made after renegotiating the agreement and ensuring its benefits reached members without discrimination.
‘We negotiated together. We achieved together. We must now consolidate together,’ he said.