The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has lamented the erosion of the value of workers’ salaries amid high inflation.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its 54th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, SSANU noted with grave concern the worsening economic hardship in the country, driven by inflation and the rising cost of living, which has further reduced the purchasing power of workers.

The communiqué, which was signed by the National President of the union, Mohammed Ibrahim, urged the Federal Government to urgently implement practical relief measures, including wage review, improved social protection and concrete interventions that will cushion the effects of current economic realities on university workers.

The union said salary earners are facing double jeopardy as their salary comes late and is worthless when it finally arrives on account of climbing inflation as well as crashing Naira value.

It stated that the recurring delays have imposed severe hardship on members, weakened morale, and undermined productivity within the university system.

While demanding immediate settlement of all outstanding salary issues, SSANU recommended the adoption of the Remita platform to ensure a more reliable and unified payment system.

SSANU also handed down a one-month strike notice from 1st to 30th April to the Federal Government to conclude the ongoing 2009 renegotiation agreement or face industrial unrest in the federal universities.

The planned strike, it hinted, will be jointly prosecuted by its sister union, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) under their Joint Action Committee (JAC).

It described the engagement so far as prolonged, one without clear-cut commitment, defined timelines, and tangible outcomes.

SSANU also expressed dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s handling of the N50 billion Earned Allowances agreed in 2022, accusing authorities of failing to implement the disbursement fully and fairly between academic and non-teaching staff.

SAANU is particularly miffed by the alleged exclusion of Inter-University Centres and Research Institutes from the payment, saying all eligible workers must benefit without discrimination.

SSANU also lamented the parlous state of most public universities, pointing to decaying infrastructure, weak service delivery, and inadequate support for research and innovation as areas of particular concern.

“The funding crisis in Nigerian universities has persisted, leading to decaying infrastructure, weak service delivery, and inadequate support for teaching, research, innovation and administration. Council reiterates that education must be treated as a priority sector and calls for predictable, transparent, and adequate funding of public universities,” it stated.

The union observed that the state of insecurity in the country is adversely affecting the learning environment, as most campuses are living under attacks of possible banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence.

It charged governments across the three tiers to be more proactive, decisive and adopt intelligence-driven action to safeguard lives and property.

SSANU insisted that Nigerian universities are falling behind in the rapidly evolving global knowledge economy due to weak digital infrastructure, inadequate research support, and limited opportunities for staff development.

To reverse the trend, the union urged the government to prioritise digital transformation, research investment, innovation, and stronger institutional partnerships that will keep Nigerian universities globally relevant and competitive.