University Senior Staff Warn Government Over Delayed 2009 Agreement Review

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has cautioned the federal government regarding prolonged delays in finalizing the renegotiation of their 2009 agreement, warning that widespread agitation is mounting across its chapters.

National Vice President and Western Zone Chairman of the union, Dr. Abdussobour Salaam, issued the warning on Thursday during the 79th Zonal Executive Council meeting held at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ogun State. The meeting brought together representatives from 26 tertiary institutions across the South-West to evaluate national and internal labor disputes.

According to the union, the renegotiation committee led by former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed is nearing the conclusion of its assignment. However, leadership noted that the process has faced intermittent obstruction from certain government officials. SSANU credited the presidency for keeping the negotiation framework intact but urged the executive branch to prevent external bodies from disrupting the final stages of the process.

The initial 2009 agreement mandated a comprehensive financial and operational review every three years. Labor leaders pointed out that consecutive structural adjustments scheduled for 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2021 were missed by successive administrations, creating a deep backlog of unaddressed grievances regarding career progression and remuneration.

While emphasizing a commitment to collaborative dialogue rather than immediate hostility, the union stated that its members previously suspended industrial action specifically to allow the Yayale Ahmed committee to work.

Leadership warned that relevant internal organs will be directed to initiate fresh labor responses if the government does not establish a clear timeline for signing the final document.

Beyond the core national agreement, regional delegates pushed for broader domestic welfare modifications. SSANU urged the state to introduce innovative economic measures to cushion the impact of high inflation and subsidy removals on institutional staff.

The union also reiterated its call for university managements across the country to expand access to the CONTISS 15 salary grade level, criticizing the prolonged stagnation of experienced non-teaching staff at the lower CONTISS 14 tier.