The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) says the Federal Government has invited the union to a crucial meeting on June 29, signalling what it described as the final stage in the long-awaited renegotiation of the 2009 Federal Government/SSANU Agreement.
The development was disclosed in a special edition of the union’s newsletter titled “SSANU and the 2009 Agreement Renegotiation: From Patience to Progress to Conclusion,” which chronicles the union’s prolonged campaign for improved welfare and conditions of service for non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities.
Under a section of the newsletter titled “Where We Are Now,” SSANU described the June 29 invitation as a significant breakthrough after years of negotiations, ultimatums and industrial actions.
“The invitation to the 29th June, 2026 meeting is a positive development and shows that the renegotiation process has reached the concluding stage. It is expected to move the discussions toward formal conclusion and signing of the agreement,” the union stated.
According to SSANU, an earlier letter dated May 21, 2026 had already indicated substantial progress in the negotiations, particularly on the proposed upward review of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS), while discussions on other outstanding issues were still being finalised.
The union expressed optimism that the latest invitation represents the government’s readiness to conclude negotiations that have spanned several years.
The newsletter reviewed the journey of the renegotiation process, noting that the demand for a review of the 2009 agreement was driven by worsening economic conditions, rising inflation, salary-related concerns and the need to improve the welfare, remuneration and professional recognition of non-teaching university workers.
It recalled that during its 51st National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in June 2025, SSANU raised concerns over withheld salaries, delays in salary payments, breaches of previous agreements, inequitable distribution of earned allowances and the urgent need to conclude the renegotiation process.
The union said the issues were again reinforced during its 52nd NEC meeting in September 2025, where members insisted that the struggle extended beyond salaries to include staff welfare, career progression and the overall sustainability of the Nigerian university system.
According to the newsletter, the 54th NEC meeting held at Ekiti State University marked a turning point in the negotiations as the union condemned what it described as endless meetings without definite commitments or timelines.
Following the meeting, SSANU issued a final ultimatum to the Federal Government from April 1 to April 30, 2026 to conclude and sign the agreement, warning that failure to do so would result in an indefinite nationwide industrial action alongside the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) under the Joint Action Committee (JAC).
The union explained that the ultimatum became necessary after years of repeated promises without concrete outcomes.
The newsletter also revisited the union’s rejection of a proposed 30 per cent salary increase announced in April 2026, insisting that the proposal did not emanate from a concluded collective bargaining process and was neither negotiated nor signed by SSANU.
It stressed that the leadership refused to accept any unilateral salary proposal outside the agreed negotiation framework, maintaining that only a properly negotiated and signed agreement could guarantee the interests of members.
The publication further recalled that although SSANU and NASU eventually embarked on industrial action after the expiration of the ultimatum, the strike was suspended following an appeal by the Federal Government’s Expanded Tertiary Institutions Negotiation Committee, which pledged to conclude the renegotiation process within an agreed period.
According to the union, suspending the strike was a strategic decision rather than a concession, as it allowed room for dialogue while preserving the unions’ capacity to resume action should the government fail to fulfil its commitments.
The newsletter urged members to continue trusting the national leadership, saying it had consistently defended the interests of non-teaching staff by insisting on proper collective bargaining, payment of withheld entitlements and earned allowances, improved remuneration and full recognition of university-based non-teaching workers.
While expressing optimism over the June 29 meeting, SSANU cautioned that signing the agreement would only mark the beginning of another phase of engagement.
It emphasised that the real success would lie in the full implementation of every provision of the agreement, including payment of arrears from the approved effective date and the extension of negotiated benefits to all eligible institutions without discrimination.
The union also called on members to remain united, disciplined and avoid rumours or misinformation capable of undermining the negotiation process.
It reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful dialogue, strategic engagement and sustained advocacy, expressing confidence that the June 29 meeting would pave the way for the formal conclusion and signing of the renegotiated 2009 agreement after years of prolonged discussions.
