The Federal Government has disbursed funds to settle the outstanding salaries of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) members across federal universities, as well as pension backlogs owed to retirees under the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme.
Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations for the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, confirmed the development in a statement issued Saturday. According to Mokwa, payment to NASU members is underway, and many beneficiaries have already confirmed receiving the transfers.
This decision follows months of unrest, as the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU initiated an indefinite strike earlier this week over four months of withheld wages. The industrial action has halted academic and administrative activities in affected universities, with additional institutions expressing solidarity with the movement.
Despite President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive for immediate payments, delays in releasing the funds have strained relations between the government and the unions. SSANU leadership expressed disappointment on Wednesday, noting that critical university administrators, including vice-chancellors, bursars, and registrars, were still awaiting payments.
Union leaders warned of further escalation, pledging to keep the impacted universities closed until all outstanding salaries were fully paid.
However, in Mokwa’s statement, he assured, “The Federal Government has released funds for the payment of withheld salaries for Non-Academic Staff Union members at federal universities, as well as pensions for retirees under the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme. Payments to NASU members have begun, and many recipients have confirmed receipt.”
The development brings hope for a resolution to the ongoing standoff, with government officials expressing optimism that the payment disbursement will alleviate tensions and restore normalcy in the nation’s federal universities.
