AAUA: SSANU demands payment of 124-month hazard allowance arrears

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), South-West Zone, has demanded the immediate payment of 124 months of outstanding hazard allowance arrears at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).

The demand was officially tabled during the union’s 80th Regular Zonal Executive Council Meeting held at the Nelson Mandela Hall of AAUA.

The meeting also featured award presentations.

Leadership from the South-West zone called on Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the university management to urgently intervene and clear the crushing backlog of debts owed to the staff.

The union also demanded a comprehensive review of the university’s senior staff career structure, saying the existing structure had stalled the career progression of many qualified workers.

Speaking at the event, the National Vice-President and South-West Zonal Chairman of SSANU, Dr Abdussobur Salaam, urged the state government to intervene in the financial challenges confronting the university and ensure the payment of outstanding workers’ entitlements.

“We noted the issues of arrears, payments, allowances and salaries being owed members of staff, not only SSANU members but also members of other unions in the university,” Salaam said.

“We therefore call on the Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to intervene and ensure that these outstanding payments owed members of staff are settled without further delay, especially in the spirit of the progressive leadership he has given the state.”

Salaam urged SSANU members to remain committed to their duties and called on the leadership of ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAT to strengthen collaboration for the development of the university and the welfare of workers.

In his welcome address, SSANU-AAUA Chairman, Comrade Abiodun Olutayo Ogungbeni, listed several outstanding issues affecting members of the union.

They include 54 months’ arrears of the 2019 minimum wage, 11 months’ arrears of the 25/35 per cent 2023 salary adjustment, 124 months’ hazard allowance arrears and outstanding promotional and incremental arrears dating back to 2023.

He also demanded payment of excess workload allowances for 2015–2019, outstanding third-party deductions, including about 37 months owed to cooperative societies, the July 2026 salary, two tranches owed to reabsorbed staff, as well as gratuities and pension entitlements of retired workers from 2008 to date.

Ogungbeni said there was a need for a comprehensive review of the senior staff career structure to reflect current realities in Nigerian universities.

“We desire a holistic review of the Senior Staff Career Structure to reflect present realities in Nigerian universities.

“The current structure has stagnated the career progression of our members, and it is unheard of that there is no CONTISS 15 staff in this university when there are many qualified staff for such positions,” he said.

He also called for full implementation of the monetary and non-monetary provisions of the 2026 SSANU/FGN agreement, including outstanding benefits from January 2026, and urged the university management to ensure the payment of August salaries without conditions.

Ogungbeni said his administration had secured some gains for staff, including the implementation of the 65/70-year retirement age, payment of the N35,000 wage award and release of the withheld January 2017 subvention.

He added that 143 members of staff had recently benefited from a conversion exercise, while 13 Deputy Registrars and five Deputy Bursars were appointed.

The chairman also commended the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga E. Ige, and the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tomola Obamuyi, for reopening the university’s main gate after it had remained closed for almost five years.

Responding, Obamuyi assured the association that the management would examine the issues raised and work towards finding lasting solutions.

Also speaking, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Ondo State Attorney-General, Adekola Olawoye Adewoye, who was honoured at the event, expressed appreciation to SSANU.

Adewoye said his role in extending the retirement age for senior staff from 60 to 65 in 2018 was carried out in his official capacity.

Chairman of the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Leke Adegbite, who was also honoured, thanked the association and pledged that journalists would continue to use their profession to address societal issues.

Adegbite expressed optimism that the financial challenges confronting the university would be resolved.