University staff protest over incomplete arrears payments from federal government

Workers across Nigeria protest incomplete arrears payments

University staff nationwide have staged protests after the federal government released arrears under its 2026 agreement with university unions. While some institutions have received payments, many workers say the amounts do not match the eight‑month figure promised by the government. The protests began on 25 October 2026 and have drawn attention to unpaid allowances and uncertainty over which staff categories are covered.

Speaking to journalists at the Federal University of Lafia, Daniel Dajen, the head of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, clarified that personnel had only been compensated for six months of back pay, despite official assertions that eight months had been settled. According to Dajen, the disbursement of these funds occurred without sufficient dialogue with the institutions to establish the precise sums needed to resolve the outstanding balances for qualified employees.

Falowo Naheem, the branch president of the same association at the University of Ilorin, noted that the eight-month settlement applied exclusively to the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance portion of the deal. He cautioned that this specific allowance was still outstanding and that qualified personnel working in university medical facilities, including physicians, nursing staff, and lab technicians, were left out of the recent payout. Naheem listed additional outstanding issues, including withheld salaries, earned allowances, salary increments and promotion arrears.

The University of Benin’s SSANU branch chairman Julius Idu reported that members had received eight months’ arrears, but the agreement had taken effect in January 2026, so nine months were expected. Idu said one month’s arrears and other entitlements—such as excess workload, hazard and responsibility allowances—were still outstanding.

At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, SSANU chairman Dr Linus Akata confirmed that workers had received payments, but he highlighted that the government had not clarified the calculation method and that some categories of staff remained unpaid.

Background

The federal government announced in early 2026 that it would release arrears to university staff under a new agreement with university unions. The agreement was intended to cover eight months of arrears, including various allowances. The release was expected to be completed by the end of the year. However, union leaders have reported that the payments have been incomplete or incorrectly calculated.

Union representatives have accused the government of distributing funds without proper consultation and of excluding certain categories of staff from the release. The allegations include unpaid allowances, withheld salaries, and incomplete coverage of promotion arrears.

Why it matters

The protests highlight a significant gap between the government’s stated commitments and the actual payments received by university staff. Unpaid allowances and incomplete arrears affect the livelihoods of thousands of workers across Nigeria’s higher‑education sector. The uncertainty over which staff categories are covered also raises concerns about fairness and compliance with the agreement.

Union leaders have called for the government to settle outstanding entitlements, clarify the calculation method, and ensure that no eligible staff category is excluded. The situation could impact staff morale, university operations, and the broader perception of the federal government’s commitment to education workers.

What happens next

Leaders of the union have called upon the federal administration to supply the required resources for full execution of the pact and to verify which employee groups are included. The government has not yet announced a definitive plan to address the shortfalls or to clarify the payment calculations. The protests continue as workers demand full settlement of arrears and allowances.