Members of the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRIAL) have called on the Federal Government to expedite the payment of all outstanding arrears owed to staff across the institutions.

The group, in a communiqué issued at the end of its sectoral council meeting and signed by the Chairman, Baba Muhammed, and the Secretary, Ademola Olajire, reviewed the welfare and conditions of service of members and described them as very poor.

According to the group, the arrears spanned several years and categories of entitlements that the government had approved but failed to pay.

SSAUTHRIAI listed the outstanding payments to include wage awards approved to cushion the impact of inflation and rising costs of living, promotion arrears owed to staff whose advancements have not been monetised, the 2009 53.7 per cent salary increase arrears, and the 2003 CONHESS/CONMESS 25 and 35 per cent adjustment arrears owed to staff of research institutes.

The association said the continued non-payment of these arrears had created financial strain for members, many of whom had waited for years to receive entitlements that were already due.

It argued that the delay contradicted the government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and undermined morale in institutions that drive research, healthcare delivery, and tertiary education in the country.

The association also expressed concern about the fluctuating, inconsistent taxation of federal workers.

The association said the government’s tax policies had been unstable and unpredictable, leading to monthly deductions that varied and increasing the financial burden on workers already grappling with rising inflation.

The council subsequently urged the federal government to review and reduce tax rates to provide relief for workers.

The council noted that the constant changes in tax rates and PAYE deductions had made financial planning difficult for federal employees.

It said many workers now take home less than expected despite stagnant salaries, while the cost of goods and services continues to climb.

The association called on the federal government to urgently review the current tax regime and introduce measures to provide immediate relief to workers whose purchasing power has been eroded.

On the broader economy, the group expressed concern about the rise in the cost of goods and services, which they said has worsened the hardship faced by Nigerian workers.

The communiqué stated that inflation had outpaced salary adjustments, leaving federal workers unable to meet basic needs such as food, transportation, healthcare and education for their families.

It, therefore, called for a comprehensive review of current economic policies to alleviate the hardship faced by citizens and restore the value of workers’ earnings.

Another issue raised by the association was the persistent failure of the National Housing Fund (NHF) to promptly remit staff contributions upon retirement.

SSAUTHRIAI said many of its members who had retired from service were still waiting to access their NHF savings, despite having contributed to the scheme throughout their working years.

The association described the delay as a violation of workers’ rights, saying it caused undue hardship for retirees who depend on those funds for post-service sustenance, housing, and medical care.

The association maintained that retirees should not be subjected to bureaucratic delays and administrative bottlenecks after decades of service to the nation.

It urged the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and other agencies managing the NHF to streamline the refund process and ensure that retired workers receive their contributions without further delay.

The association noted that prompt payment of arrears, a stable tax policy, and efficient remittance of NHF contributions were critical to maintaining industrial harmony in universities, teaching hospitals and research institutes.

It warned that failure to address these issues could affect productivity and morale among senior staff, who play key roles in teaching, research, clinical services and institutional administration.

SSAUTHRIAI added that workers in the education and health sectors remain central to national development.