The Federal Government has released eight months’ salary arrears owed members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Channels Television reports.
SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed the development to Channels Television, saying the payment followed the 14-day ultimatum issued by the union over the unpaid arrears and non-implementation of the 2026 agreement with the government.
Ibrahim said the intervention demonstrated the Federal Government’s responsiveness and the commitment of the Minister of Education to honouring agreements reached with university-based unions.
The development comes less than 24 hours after SSANU threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if the government failed to address its outstanding financial demands.
At its 56th National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the union had demanded the immediate release of funds to affected universities and full implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement.
SSANU said the agreement took effect from January 1, 2026, although it was formally signed on June 29, and complained that implementation remained incomplete in some universities due to funding and administrative challenges.
The union had warned that failure to meet its demands within 14 days would lead to a “total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action” without further notice.
However, Ibrahim said the planned industrial action had now been averted following the release of the outstanding eight months’ salaries.
The latest development is part of a broader dispute over withheld salaries involving university-based non-academic staff.
In October 2024, SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike over the payment of four months’ withheld salaries.
The unions had alleged that the Federal Government paid withheld salaries to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) while non-academic staff were excluded.
