• Seeks implementation of 2009 agreement

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has lamented four months of withheld salaries of its members by the Federal Government. The National President of the association, Mohammed Ibrahim, accused the government of bad faith, saying withholding salaries is unjustifiable since the association complied with relevant laws when it went on strike for four months in 2022.

“SSANU complied with all industrial legal protocol before embarking on strike when government reneged on its part of the bargain. We have made every effort for government to see a reason why we should be paid our right due all to no avail,” he said.
While calling on government to urgently pay the withheld salaries without further delay, SSANU lamented the insensitivity of government to the plight of workers as provocative and unbearable.

Ibrahim stressed that despite the hostile environment in which the association operates, it remains undeterred in its quest to contribute to the building of the country.

He added: “Our members have continued to report for duty in the most security-challenging parts of the country. It’s a pity that the Federal Government has remained adamant in the payment of withheld four months salaries during the nationwide strike in 2022.”

He noted that since the association suspended the strike last year, the issue of re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement has not yielded any result, saying, “It appears the Federal Government does not like the industrial harmony in the universities. We are calling on government to ensure that the renegotiation is concluded and implemented.”

The SAANU president also expressed worries over the 40 per cent increase in Federal Government workers’ allowances. It also revealed that the N50 billion earned allowances, which government promised last year is yet to be paid.

He added: “We are using this opportunity to tell government to release it as quickly as possible, as further delay will not be helpful to the system. The morale of university workers is dampened by the inability of government to create a conducive environment in the university system. Government appears to be paying lip service to funding education.”