SSANU Laments Exclusion of Members from Civil Servants’ 40% Pay Rise on International Workers’ Day

On the occasion of the 2023 International Workers’ Day, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the government’s exclusion of its members from the 40% pay rise recently granted to civil servants in Nigeria. Furthermore, the union has decried the government’s failure to release the salaries of its members that were withheld during the four-month strike period in 2022.

International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day, is celebrated annually on May 1st to recognize the contribution of the working class across the globe. The origins of Labour Day date back to 1886 when a Labour Union in the United States protested for a maximum of eight hours of work per day.
In his goodwill message to commemorate the occasion, Muhammed Ibrahim, the national president of SSANU and the national internal auditor for the Nigeria Labour Congress, acknowledged the dedication of workers in contributing to the growth and development of the country.
Nonetheless, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, Ibrahim expressed his disappointment at the government’s failure to pay the withheld salaries of SSANU members who participated in the nationwide strike last year, despite complying with all legal protocols before embarking on the strike. He called on the government to urgently pay the withheld salaries without further delay.
Additionally, Ibrahim expressed concern about the lack of progress in renegotiating the 2009 Agreement and the failure of the government to pay the N50 billion Earned Allowances it promised last year. He urged the government to conclude the renegotiation promptly and pay the Earned Allowances to avoid disrupting the industrial harmony in universities.
Finally, Ibrahim appealed to the government to ensure that SSANU members receive their 40% pay rise, stating that the union could not guarantee industrial harmony in universities if the government failed to do so.
In summary, SSANU has used the occasion of International Workers’ Day to call on the Nigerian government to address the various concerns raised by the union and ensure that the rights and welfare of workers are prioritized.