In a significant development for higher education stability, the Federal Government has released eight months of outstanding salary arrears to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), successfully averting a planned national strike across public universities.

The swift financial disbursement came less than 48 hours after SSANU’s National Executive Council issued a strict 14-day ultimatum, warning that it would launch a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike action if the government failed to settle legitimate staff entitlements. The union’s demands centered on unpaid arrears stemming from the implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU agreement, as well as outstanding withheld salaries from previous industrial actions and salary increase adjustments.

Confirming the payment, SSANU National President Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim praised the Federal Government for its prompt intervention, noting that the timely action averted what would have been a disruptive crisis in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. Ibrahim specifically commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, for facilitating the prompt release of the funds and fulfilling administrative commitments made to union leadership.

Following the release of the funds, union leadership directed branch executives in federal and state universities across the country to work closely with their respective university managements to guarantee a smooth, transparent, and prompt distribution of the payments to all affected staff. Stakeholders hope that this proactive resolution marks a sustained shift toward maintaining industrial peace and prioritizing staff welfare within the nation’s university system.