Tensions Rise as SSANU Issues Fresh Strike Ultimatum Over Unpaid Arrears
The education sector in Nigeria is bracing for another potential industrial crisis as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) issues a fresh strike ultimatum to the Federal Government. The latest friction stems from unresolved grievances regarding long-standing unpaid arrears and a staunch rejection of the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos.
During a well-attended emergency briefing in Abuja, union leadership expressed deep frustration over the government’s apparent foot-dragging in addressing welfare concerns that have plagued university non-teaching staff for months. With the SSANU strike ultimatum now active, campuses across the country are once again preparing for possible disruptions that could cripple administrative and operational services.
Core Demands and the King’s College Concession Controversy
At the heart of the current dispute is the lingering issue of withheld salaries and unpaid earned allowances. Despite previous agreements and memoranda of understanding signed with federal representatives, members argue that the government has failed to disburse funds as promised.
Why SSANU is Opposing Public School Concessioning
Beyond the financial demands, the union has taken a firm stand against the planned concession of elite legacy institutions like King’s College. According to national executives, handing over public educational infrastructure to private entities threatens to price ordinary Nigerians out of quality education, violating the fundamental principles of public service delivery.
As the countdown on the SSANU strike ultimatum ticks down, stakeholders in Abuja and Lagos are calling on the Federal Ministry of Education to urgently re-engage union leaders. Failure to reach a constructive compromise before the deadline could plunge Nigerian universities into yet another debilitating shutdown, affecting thousands of students and administrative systems nationwide.