The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has voiced its dissatisfaction over the exclusion of its members from the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, alleging that this directive stemmed from the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Both SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) expressed dismay at their exclusion from the salary payments, urging the government to extend the same treatment to their members. In a joint statement titled “Failure of the Federal Government to pay Outstanding Salaries to NASU and SSANU members,” the unions warned of potential disruptions to university activities if their concerns were not addressed promptly.
The unions had previously communicated their grievances to the Chief of Staff to the President and the Minister of Education on February 13, 2024, highlighting the omission of non-teaching staff from the salary payments. Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU President, addressed journalists in Abuja, emphasizing the discrepancy between the directive from President Bola Tinubu to pay four months’ withheld salaries and the subsequent exclusion of SSANU and NASU members from the payment.
Ibrahim revealed that a memo from the Chief of Staff to the President instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to only pay members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) four months of their withheld salaries. Despite letters sent to the Chief of Staff and Minister of Education seeking clarification, no response had been received, prompting SSANU to consider further action.
Concerns were also raised regarding the poor funding of state universities in Nigeria, with Ibrahim describing the situation as dire. He stressed the need for equitable standards across all universities in the country and highlighted the role of funding in maintaining these standards. SSANU has engaged with state governors through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to address funding issues affecting state universities.
Ibrahim emphasized the importance of robust accreditation processes by the National Universities Commission (NUC), suggesting that accreditation should consider factors such as timely payment of salaries. He argued that universities unable to meet basic financial obligations should face consequences, including potential delisting.
SSANU called on the government to prioritize funding for education and ensure that universities have adequate resources to fulfill their mandates of teaching, research, and community service. Failure to address these issues, Ibrahim warned, could further diminish the reputation of Nigerian universities on the global stage.