The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has suspended its two-week strike ultimatum to the Federal Government following the release of funds for the payment of eight months’ arrears owed to its members.
The union, however, has urged the Federal Government to address other outstanding salary-related demands affecting non-academic staff in federal universities.
It also called on state governments that have yet to implement the 2026 agreement to fulfil their obligations to workers in state-owned universities.
SSANU announced the decision in a statement issued by its National President, Comrade Mohamed Ibrahim, following a meeting of its National Administrative Committee (NAC).
The decision came after the Federal Government approved and released funds for the payment of arrears covering January to August 2026 on October 7.
The payment followed an earlier warning by the union that it could embark on a total and indefinite strike if the government failed to provide funds for the implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement within two weeks.
SSANU had issued the ultimatum on October 5, giving the government a limited period to respond to its demands.
The release of funds two days later prompted the union to reconsider its planned industrial action.
In a statement titled “Notification of the Suspension of the Two-Week Ultimatum Issued to the Federal Government,” the association said the decision was taken in recognition of the government’s response and its willingness to sustain engagement with the union.
The statement read: “Following the two-week ultimatum issued to the Federal Government by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), which commenced on October 5, 2026, and the subsequent approval and release of eight months’ arrears by the Federal Government on October 7, 2026, the National Administrative Committee (NAC), acting on behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC), wishes to formally inform and notify members of SSANU and the general public of its decision to suspend the ultimatum.
“At its meeting, the NAC took cognisance of the Federal Government’s prompt release of funds for the payment of eight months’ arrears of CONTTA owed to SSANU members for the period of January to August 2026.
“In recognition of this positive development, mutual understanding and good faith, the NAC, on behalf of the NEC, has resolved to suspend the intended industrial action.”
The suspension offers temporary relief to university administrators, students and other members of the university community who could have been affected by a fresh industrial dispute.
However, the union’s decision does not mean that all its demands have been met.
SSANU made it clear that the government must address the remaining issues to prevent further disagreements over the welfare of non-academic staff in the country’s tertiary institutions.
The association identified two major financial issues that remain unresolved at the federal level.
These are the outstanding one-year arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary award introduced in 2023 and the two months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 industrial action.
The union maintained that the payments are part of its members’ outstanding entitlements and should not be delayed further.
It called on the government to take concrete steps to settle the amounts owed.
The statement added: “While acknowledging this development, the union urges the Federal Government to reciprocate this gesture by fulfilling all other outstanding demands, which include the release and payment of the one-year arrears of the 25% and 35% salary award of 2023 and the two months’ 2022 withheld salaries.
“It also urges state governments that are yet to implement the 2026 signed agreement to pay other outstanding arrears to our members in state universities.”
SSANU’s appeal to state governments reflects concerns over the uneven implementation of agreements across the university system.
While the latest payment addresses part of the financial obligations owed to staff in federal institutions, the union wants workers in state-owned universities to receive the benefits of agreements reached with their respective governments.
The association also stressed that the suspension of the ultimatum should not be interpreted as an abandonment of its demands.
It expects the Federal Government to sustain the pace of engagement and resolve the remaining issues before they develop into another dispute.
According to the union, its willingness to suspend the planned action is based on the government’s response to its demands and the need to maintain stability in the university system.
“The union remains committed to dialogue but expects the government to demonstrate the same level of goodwill by taking concrete steps towards resolving all outstanding issues affecting our members across federal and state universities,” the statement said.
SSANU further directed members of its National Executive Council to communicate the decision to their respective branches and continue engaging relevant stakeholders on the outstanding issues.
The union said it would continue to pursue the welfare and legitimate interests of its members while seeking to preserve industrial harmony in universities.
The development comes against the backdrop of previous disagreements between university-based unions and the Federal Government over withheld salaries and the implementation of agreements.
In October 2024, SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) embarked on an indefinite strike over the payment of four months’ withheld salaries linked to an earlier industrial dispute.
The unions had raised concerns about the treatment of non-academic staff in comparison with academic staff.
The latest dispute has centred on the implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement, which took effect from January 1, 2026, before it was formally signed on June 29, 2026.
SSANU had complained that implementation remained incomplete in some universities because of funding and administrative challenges.
Recall that, in a related development, POLITICS NIGERIA reported on October 7 that the Federal Government had released eight months’ salary arrears owed to SSANU members following the union’s threat of an indefinite strike.
The payment came shortly after the association issued its ultimatum, raising hopes that the intervention would prevent another disruption in the university system.