Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have expressed growing concern over the delayed payment of February 2026 salaries for staff of federal universities, warning that the continued delay is causing financial hardship and could threaten industrial harmony across Nigeria’s higher education sector. The union, through its National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, criticised the Federal Government for what it described as an “undue delay” in salary disbursement, stressing that the situation has placed considerable strain on workers and their families, particularly during the ongoing Ramadan and Lenten fasting periods.
According to SSANU leadership, the delays are not only affecting morale among university staff but are beginning to erode confidence in the system and negatively impact productivity within institutions. Ibrahim emphasised that university employees, who dedicate their skills and expertise to sustaining academic operations, deserve timely and consistent remuneration for their services. The union appealed to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to urgently address the salary backlog and ensure that outstanding payments are released without further delay.
The association also highlighted problems with inconsistent payment processes, including the alternating use of GIFMIS and the Remita platform, which have contributed to the current disruptions. Beyond salary delays, SSANU criticised the slow pace of ongoing renegotiations between the Federal Government and non-teaching university unions, including SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU). While acknowledging the efforts of the Federal Government’s renegotiation committee, the union stated that negotiations have yet to yield a satisfactory resolution.
In response to recent public statements credited to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, suggesting that industrial harmony has been fully restored within the university system, Ibrahim insisted that such claims do not reflect the reality on the ground. He stressed that meaningful progress requires not only dialogue but also the prompt implementation of agreements and transparent communication with stakeholders.
SSANU warned that if the issues are not resolved promptly, including the immediate payment of outstanding salaries and an accelerated renegotiation process, the union may be compelled to pursue legal and industrial actions, including withdrawal of services and picketing of government offices. The union reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement with the Federal Government with the aim of sustaining industrial harmony and protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s university system but emphasised that urgent government action is necessary to restore confidence and stability among staff and stakeholders.
