Nigeria’s university system could be heading for another round of disruption as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has given the Federal Government a one-month deadline to address lingering labour issues.

The warning came after the union’s recent national meeting in Ekiti State, where it expressed frustration over the slow pace of negotiations with the government. SSANU says discussions have dragged on for too long without any clear outcome.

At the centre of its concerns are unpaid and delayed salaries, alongside welfare issues affecting workers in federal and some state universities. The union states that the situation has made life difficult for its members and is beginning to impact how effectively they can perform their duties.

SSANU is also dissatisfied with how previous agreements, especially those regarding earned allowances, have been handled. It argues that not all eligible workers have benefited as expected, which has created further tension within the system.

The union has asked the government to conclude negotiations and address these issues within 30 days. It warned that if nothing changes within that period, it will not rule out industrial action.

Beyond salaries, SSANU is also pointing to the broader challenges in the university system, especially poor funding. According to the union, the lack of proper investment is already showing in decaying infrastructure and reduced quality in teaching and research.

The warning comes at a time when labour tensions in the education sector are gradually building again, raising concerns about possible disruptions in academic activities if talks fail to yield results.

For now, all eyes are on the Federal Government to see if it will respond before the deadline runs out.