The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has given the Federal Government a final warning to pay the withheld four months’ salary arrears owed to its members.

If not, there will be a total shutdown of Nigerian universities and other higher institutions starting on Thursday, July 4.

SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions had previously issued a two-week ultimatum for the government to pay the withheld salaries. While the Academic Staff Union of Universities has received their withheld salaries, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT have not.

In an effort to avoid the strike, SSANU held its 48th National Executive Council meeting at the University of Benin, Edo State. SSANU President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, urged the government to pay the withheld salaries by the end of Thursday, July 4.

In a communique, Ibrahim expressed disappointment with the government’s actions.

He said, “NEC in session once again expresses utmost dismay at the unprecedented level of Government’s insensitivity and deliberate resolve to cause chaos in the university system by adopting the divide and rule policy.”

Ibrahim explained that the government had forced unions to go on strike in 2022 due to the refusal to honor a Collective Bargaining Agreement. Despite the non-victimisation clause in the agreement, the government made selective payments of withheld salaries.

“While we do not begrudge the payment made to our colleagues, we expected the same gesture to be extended to SSANU and NASU that legally complied with all procedures before embarking on the Industrial action,” Ibrahim added.

Despite promises from the Ministers of Education and Labour and the House of Representatives to pay these arrears, SSANU claims the government has continued to delay.

The NEC has approved a comprehensive industrial action after a meeting with the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU on July 4, if the government fails to pay the arrears.

Regarding the government’s approved wage award of N35,000 to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, Ibrahim said, “The gross inability of the wage award to heal the excruciating financial wounds is further compounded by its stoppage in Federal Universities with three months arrears already pending.”

He urged the Federal Government to resume payment of the wage award alongside the accrued three months’ arrears. Ibrahim also called on state governments that have not yet started paying the award to begin with the arrears.

If the government does not take immediate action, the planned strike will disrupt universities and higher institutions across the country starting on July 4.