SSANU Demands Increased Funding for Varsities, Wage Review for Workers

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) has asked federal and state governments to increase their funding for the running and the Universities in the country.

It called for an urgent and meaningful wage review that reflects current economic realities, alongside expanded social protection measures specifically targeted at education sector workers.

The union said government should ensure adequate funding, predictable timely releases, and that strict accountability mechanisms are emplaced to monitor usage of funds.

SSANU also charged the government to ensure that resources voted for the institutions directly address critical needs in teaching, research, infrastructure, digital systems, and administrative services.

The union expressed worry over what it described as ever-widening gap between the increasing needs of Nigerian universities and the inadequate level of government funding.

In a communique issued after its

53rd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Jos in Plateau State, SSANU demanded predictable and adequate funding, expressing concern over the severe economic pressure facing university workers.

It noted that inflation, fuel price increases, transportation difficulties, and escalating costs of essential goods have continued to erode the already stagnant salaries.

The communique signed by SSANU president, Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, said that most of the public universities in the country are having dilapidated infrastructure.

Part of the communique read: “NEC noted with deep worry the ever-widening gap between the increasing needs of Nigerian universities and the inadequate level of government funding.

 “Across campuses, essential services are collapsing: electricity remains highly unreliable, water supply systems frequently break down, and many hostels, classrooms, and offices have deteriorated into unsafe and embarrassing conditions. Laboratories operate with obsolete or non-functional equipment, severely limiting research output and practical learning.

“NEC further observed that weak campus infrastructure extends to security architecture, where poor lighting, broken perimeter fences, and under-resourced security units expose staff and students to rising threats.

“Combined with inconsistent maintenance culture and delayed release of funds, universities are unable to sustain basic operations.

“SSANU therefore demands predictable and adequate funding, timely releases, and strict accountability mechanisms to ensure that resources directly address critical needs in teaching, research, infrastructure, digital systems, and administrative services.”

Without decisive government action, the decay of university infrastructure will continue to undermine national development and the future of the Nigerian youth.

SSANU also said that university workers are facing increasing economic hardship and rising cost of living.

It called for, “an urgent and meaningful wage review that reflects current economic realities, alongside expanded social protection measures specifically targeted at education sector workers”

“NEC also demands clear government policies that guarantee affordable transportation and housing for staff, stressing that workers cannot continue to absorb the impact of an economy that has outpaced their earnings and undermined their quality of life”.