The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has signaled its intention to embark on a nationwide strike if the federal government does not resolve lingering issues tied to the unmet 2009 agreement with university personnel.
During the opening session of the SSANU NOWAHALAZONE training at Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijagun, Ogun State, SSANU’s National President, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, called out the government for its lack of commitment toward university workers’ concerns.
Ibrahim cautioned that a strike would be unavoidable and would continue indefinitely unless the government earnestly addresses SSANU’s longstanding demands.
“This strike would not just be the ‘mother of all strikes’—it would be the grandfather,” he declared. “When SSANU or NASU withdraws their services, the impact is always significant. It’s time for us to take charge of our fate.”
He expressed deep dissatisfaction with the poor conditions faced by university staff, stressing that they endure some of the harshest financial, economic, and psychological hardships in the nation’s workforce.
“At a minimum, SSANU members must be compensated fairly. University staff remain among the lowest paid, and that’s why we are resolute in demanding better salaries and benefits,” Ibrahim stated.
He further advocated for enhanced federal support for education-focused universities such as TASUED, emphasizing the critical importance of specialized training for educators.
“Education is a vocation that requires dedicated training; effective teaching doesn’t happen by accident—it demands expertise. As a product of a teacher’s college myself, I see firsthand why institutions like this deserve special support,” he said, urging the federal government to prioritize such universities.
Ibrahim also praised TASUED’s management for cultivating a tranquil and conducive environment for learning and academic research.
On his part, TASUED’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwole Banjo, commended SSANU’s branch executives and members for their positive working relationship with the university’s leadership.
Banjo highlighted TASUED’s reputation as one of the universities with the most harmonious staff union relations in the country. He also announced ongoing efforts to introduce new incentives to promote staff development, with proposals soon to be presented to the governing council for approval and implementation.
Branch Chairman Kehinde Adebayo used the platform to call for an urgent review of the university’s career structure, citing its outdated nature compared to current standards at other institutions. He further appealed to management to settle all outstanding salary arrears owed to union members.
