The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has raised concerns over the delay in the payment of February 2026 salaries to staff of federal universities, warning that continued delay could trigger industrial action.
The National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, made the union’s position known in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
Ibrahim said the delay had caused severe financial hardship for staff members and their families, while also lowering morale and affecting productivity within the university system.
He noted that university workers who contribute significantly to sustaining the education sector deserved prompt payment of their salaries.
“The delay in salary payment is steadily eroding confidence in the system, lowering staff morale and inevitably affecting productivity and overall institutional performance within our universities,” he said.
Ibrahim called on the relevant authorities, particularly the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) office under the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, to urgently address the delay and ensure the immediate payment of the February salaries.
According to him, investigations by the union indicated that frequent changes in the salary payment process for university staff had contributed to the delay.
He said the movement between the GIFMIS and Remita platforms in recent months showed inconsistency in government policy direction.
Ibrahim recommended the adoption of the Remita platform for the payment of salaries of university workers, describing it as seamless and reliable.
The SSANU president also expressed concern over the slow pace of the ongoing renegotiation process between the Federal Government and university-based unions, including SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).
He, however, acknowledged the efforts of the Chairman of the Federal Government Renegotiation Committee, Malam Yayale Ahmed, noting that his leadership had contributed to some progress in the talks.
Ibrahim said the renegotiation process had yet to reach a conclusive and satisfactory resolution.
He also expressed concern over recent public comments credited to the Minister of Education suggesting that industrial harmony had been fully achieved in the university system.
According to him, such statements do not reflect the current realities of the negotiations and may create a misleading impression among the public.
“While we recognise the contributions of stakeholders working towards a resolution, the Ministry of Education must demonstrate stronger commitment, urgency and leadership to ensure that the renegotiation process reaches a logical and mutually acceptable conclusion,” he said.
The union urged the Federal Government to ensure the immediate payment of the outstanding February 2026 salaries of federal university staff, particularly as many members were observing Ramadan and the Lenten fast.
SSANU also called on the government to accelerate the renegotiation process with university unions and provide accurate information to the public on the true status of the negotiations.
The union warned that failure to address the issues raised could compel it to seek redress through lawful means, including withdrawal of services and picketing of relevant government offices.
SSANU, however, reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with the Federal Government in order to sustain industrial harmony and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s university system.
