Author: Gist Correspondent

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has maintained its stance to embark on industrial action from April 30 if the Federal Government fails to conclude ongoing negotiations on staff welfare and entitlements.

This position comes despite the government’s approval of a 30 per cent salary increase for non-academic staff in federal tertiary institutions—an offer already rejected by the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), which argued that the decision was not based on any concluded agreement.

Speaking at a meeting held at Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) on Wednesday, SSANU branch chairman, Felix Adumbi, said the union would not shift its deadline unless the renegotiation process is fully concluded and formalised.

He noted that discussions with the government began in 2022 and were still ongoing when the salary increment circular was issued, describing the move as premature and unacceptable.

Adumbi recalled that the union had earlier issued a one-month ultimatum from April 1 to April 30 during its 54th National Executive Council meeting held at Ekiti State University in March, stressing that the timeline remains binding.

“We have been on this renegotiation for years, and what we expect now is for the government to conclude it urgently so that there can be a mutually agreed framework,” he said.

He further criticised the circular, saying it did not reflect any agreement reached during negotiations.

The union warned that failure by the government to return to the negotiating table and conclude discussions before the deadline could lead to further directives from its national leadership—raising the prospect of a nationwide strike.