Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has issued a stern warning to university authorities against victimising its members for participating in lawful union activities, insisting that any form of intimidation, punitive posting, or denial of negotiated benefits would not be tolerated. The warning was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the union's 55th National Executive Council meeting, which was held at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi from Wednesday, July 22, to Friday, July 24, 2026. The communiqué, signed by SSANU National President Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, was made public on Monday, July 27, 2026.
The union's NEC explicitly warned against what it described as the denial of negotiated benefits, punitive postings, delayed promotions, harassment, or any form of victimisation arising from members' participation in lawful union activities. "NEC seriously warned against the denial of negotiated benefits, punitive postings, delayed promotions, harassment, or any form of victimisation arising from members' participation in lawful union activities," the communiqué stated in clear terms. The warning comes amid growing concerns that some university administrators may be targeting union activists for their roles in advocating for staff welfare and demanding the implementation of the newly signed 2026 Federal Government-SSANU agreement.
The 2026 agreement, signed on June 29, 2026, marked the culmination of years of protracted negotiations between the government and non-teaching university workers over improved welfare and conditions of service. The union described the signing as "a landmark achievement made possible through the resilience, unity and sacrifices of SSANU members nationwide". According to the union, the agreement provides for a 35 per cent upward review of emoluments through the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance, improved earned allowances, enhanced staff training and development opportunities, protection of non-teaching positions, and equal career progression opportunities for qualified degree holders up to CONTISS 15.
Beyond the warning against victimisation, SSANU called for the immediate activation of the Implementation Monitoring Committee provided for in the agreement to ensure compliance and address any violations. The union resolved that the implementation of the agreement must be done "promptly, fully and without encroachment and discrimination". It also urged both the Federal and State Governments to urgently release funds for the implementation and payment of arrears of the approved salary review to members without further delay.
SSANU further clarified that the agreement applies only to constitutionally recognised members of the union, whose membership is established through voluntary admission, registration, and payment of check-off dues in various branches. Branches were directed to maintain accurate and verifiable membership records and to report all cases of non-compliance, marginalisation, or victimisation through the appropriate union structures. On the outstanding 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase arrears, the union commended vice-chancellors and heads of institutions that had fully or partially implemented the payment. However, it strongly criticised institutions that had yet to implement or pay the arrears and urged them to do so without further delay to improve staff welfare amid the country's economic challenges.
The union also welcomed the Federal Government's HOPE-EDU programme and the 2026 Tertiary Education Trust Fund intervention of about N2.53 billion allocated to each public university. Nevertheless, SSANU maintained that TETFund interventions should not replace statutory government funding. "The Council stressed that TETFund is supplementary and must not replace adequate government funding, regular budgetary releases and the fulfilment of the N1.3 trillion public university revitalisation commitment," the communiqué read. The union urged the government to publish a transparent account of education funds released and channel more investments into staff and student accommodation, laboratories, electricity, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, research and staff development.
On the broader economic front, SSANU expressed concern that the slight decline in headline inflation from 15.93 per cent in May to 15.91 per cent in June had not improved workers' living conditions, noting that food inflation actually rose from 16.96 per cent to 17.52 per cent during the same period. The union called on the government to restore workers' purchasing power through improved wages, pensions, affordable housing, transportation, and social protection measures. The NEC commended the National Universities Commission for forwarding the signed agreement to all public universities and inter-university centres, and applauded the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for issuing the implementation circular. It also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the expanded tertiary institutions negotiation committee, and all relevant ministries, departments and agencies for bringing the renegotiation process to a logical conclusion.
The union's warning against victimisation comes at a critical moment as university administrators across the country begin the process of implementing the new agreement. With the NEC having spoken clearly against any form of intimidation or punitive measures against union activists, SSANU has made it clear that it will not stand idly by while its members are targeted for their legitimate advocacy efforts. The union's message is unambiguous: participation in lawful union activities is a protected right, and any attempt to victimise members for exercising that right will be met with firm resistance through the union's established structures.
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