Abuja: The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has made a call for urgent harmonisation of salary disbursements across all Federal and State institutions to ensure fairness and equity. Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of SSANU, issued this demand following the 51st National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the communique highlighted concerns over delays in salary payments to federal universities, which often occur weeks after other Federal workers have been paid. Ibrahim described this practice as discriminatory and unacceptable, urging for immediate harmonisation to bring about fairness and equity. The NEC also condemned the withholding of salaries for SSANU members involved in the 2022 industrial action, calling on the Federal Government to release the outstanding two months’ salaries to restore industrial harmony.
Ibrahim further expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to honour Memoranda of Understanding and other agreements with SSANU. He emphasized that these agreements, reached through structured dialogue, must be fully honoured and warned of potential actions to compel compliance if neglect continues.
The communique also criticized the inequitable allocation of the ?50 billion Earned Allowance, where only 20 percent was allotted to non-teaching unions including SSANU. Ibrahim termed this allocation as unjust and a breach of the MoU signed with the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU in August 2022, calling for a redress of this injustice.
Additionally, Ibrahim voiced disappointment over the Federal Government’s Renegotiation Committee’s silence on the 2009 FG/SSANU Agreement and other issues affecting members. He urged the government to address the worsening economy, cost of living, and recent security challenges across the country. SSANU reaffirmed its commitment to nation-building and readiness to contribute its expertise in education reform.
