The Federal Government has successfully completed the long-awaited renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The agreement ends months of discussions over the conditions of service for non-teaching staff in Nigeria’s public universities.
The breakthrough came on Monday after an extended meeting between the government’s Expanded Renegotiation Committee and the leaders of the three unions at the National Universities Commission (NUC) headquarters in Abuja.
Confirming the development, the National President of SSANU and Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, said the SSANU salary agreement had been finalised.
“I can confirm that the renegotiation has been concluded today and an agreement has been reached. We will communicate the details after briefing the unions,” Ibrahim said.
Although he declined to reveal the terms immediately, he explained that the unions would first brief their respective governing bodies before releasing full details to the public.
A senior source at the NUC, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to comment officially, disclosed that the unions accepted a 35 per cent salary increase after the government explained its financial limitations. According to the source, officials said current economic conditions made it impossible to extend the 40 per cent salary increase previously approved for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to non-teaching staff.
“The unions initially sought parity with ASUU’s 40 per cent increase, but government explained its financial constraints and appealed for understanding. After extensive deliberations, the parties agreed on a 35 per cent salary increase,” the source said.
The SSANU salary agreement brings an end to a prolonged negotiation process that had fuelled industrial tension across public universities. The unions had repeatedly threatened industrial action over delays in reviewing the 2009 agreement, insisting that non-teaching staff also deserved improved pay and working conditions. Further details of the SSANU salary agreement are expected after consultations within SSANU, NASU, and NAAT are completed.
