SSANU Calls for More Funding as Varsity Wage Review Lags
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has faulted both the federal and state governments over what it described as chronic underfunding of public universities, warning that the situation is crippling institutions and worsening the welfare of workers.
The union called for a significant increase in funding to enable universities to meet their operational responsibilities, alongside an urgent wage review that reflects current economic realities. SSANU also demanded stronger social protection measures tailored specifically to education sector employees.
According to the union, government funding must not only be adequate but also predictable and released on time, with strict accountability frameworks put in place to ensure proper utilization of funds.
SSANU stressed that resources allocated to universities should be directed toward critical areas such as teaching and learning, research activities, infrastructure renewal, digital systems, and essential administrative services.
The association expressed deep concern over what it termed the growing mismatch between the expanding needs of Nigerian universities and the insufficient funding provided by government authorities.
These resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued after SSANU’s 53rd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Jos, Plateau State. The union highlighted the severe economic strain facing university workers, noting that rising inflation, fuel price hikes, transportation challenges, and the escalating cost of basic goods have continued to erode stagnant salaries.
In the communiqué signed by SSANU President Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, the union lamented the poor state of infrastructure across most public universities.
“NEC observed with grave concern the widening gap between the growing needs of Nigerian universities and the grossly inadequate level of government funding,” the statement read.
“Across campuses, basic services are failing. Electricity supply remains unreliable, water systems frequently collapse, and hostels, classrooms, and offices have deteriorated into unsafe and humiliating conditions. Laboratories are equipped with outdated or non-functional facilities, severely undermining research output and practical training.”
The union further warned that decaying infrastructure has also weakened campus security, with poor lighting, broken perimeter fences, and poorly equipped security units exposing staff and students to rising threats.
SSANU noted that delayed fund releases and weak maintenance culture have made it nearly impossible for universities to sustain basic operations, insisting that immediate action is required to prevent further decline.
“SSANU therefore demands predictable and adequate funding, timely disbursement of allocations, and strict accountability mechanisms to ensure that funds are used to meet critical institutional needs,” the communiqué concluded.
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