SSANU National – Solidarity Forever
Our History | SSANU Nigeria
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) came into being at the Owerri Declaration in October 1993 when Sir B.A.C. Onwurah (UNN) and other compatriots like Comrades Dapo Oluge (UI), Barr. Senbanjo (UNILORIN), Barr. Sam Piwuna, (UNIJOS), Mrs. Mustapha (ABU, Zaria), Barr. Odey (UNICAL) and Laz Igbokwe (UNN) to mention but a few, extracted the group made up of Senior non-teaching staff of Nigerian universities and inter-University Centres from the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), a contraction by the Federal Government for purposes of administrative expediency and sustained the Union for about 7 years (1993-2000) with very meager resources at their disposal.
The Foundation President, as he was fondly called, together with his able compatriots and dedicated and selfless comrades across the branches nationwide, laid a solid foundation for the Union, upon which subsequent vibrant leaders of the union were to build. After Sir Onwurah, came Comrade (Barr.) Sam Piwuna of the University of Jos in 2000 after a period of interval that saw the late Comrade (Barr.) John Odey as Acting President between 1999 and 2009. It is on record that, the 2009 SSANU/FGN agreement which was the first agreement with Government was realized during the Sam Piwuna era, even when the union was yet to be officially registered.
The Golden era in the history of SSANU came when Comrade (Barr.) Promise A. K. Adewusi became National President in 2004 at the Port Harcourt NDC. During the Adewusi era, SSANU was formally and officially registered as a Trade Union by the Registrar of Trade Unions in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity with Certificate number 0105 dated 29th June, 2005 and gazetted in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette number 22 of 2005.
SSANU Constitution was codified, and it became affiliated to a Trade Centre, first to the Congress of Free Trade Unions (CFTU) 2006, where SSANU was able to grab the position of 2nd Deputy President for its fighting spirit during the fuel subsidy crisis. Later after the merger of CFTU with NLC (which SSANU as Acting President of CFTU initiated) on 18th January, 2009, SSANU became affiliated to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) under Comrade President Oshiomhole despite envious opposition from sister unions for the first time in the history of the union and also attained the enviable position of Deputy President of NLC, a position which SSANU held until the 2015 NLC NDC. An official Secretariat was acquired and the first set of employees were engaged.
SSANU Constitution was codified, and it became affiliated to a Trade Centre, first to the Congress of Free Trade Unions (CFTU) 2006, where SSANU was able to grab the position of 2nd Deputy President for its fighting spirit during the fuel subsidy crisis. Later after the merger of CFTU with NLC (which SSANU as Acting President of CFTU initiated) on 18th January, 2009, SSANU became affiliated to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) under Comrade President Oshiomhole despite envious opposition from sister unions for the first time in the history of the union and also attained the enviable position of Deputy President of NLC, a position which SSANU held until the 2015 NLC NDC. An official Secretariat was acquired and the first set of employees were engaged.
A Conference Hall was built, SSANU website was launched (though it was short-lived) and the secretariat was computerized. An NGO, (SHARP) was established which attracted funding from highly reputable international donor agencies like the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Academy for Educational Development (AED). Furthermore, the second agreement (2009 SSANU/FGN Agreement) was during Comrade P.A.K. Adewusi. This agreement irrespective of whatever any critic may say, has changed the fortunes of members of the Union for the good, as it succeeded in attaining 65 years retirement age for SSANU members, put our Registrars and Bursars on consolidated salary and returned parity in the salaries of university workers (for which our antagonists in the system still grudge us) across board plus earned allowances negotiated and signed.
Further struggles and victories continued with the entrance of Comrade Samson C. Ugwoke as the National President in the period 2011 – 2020.
Our Philosophy
Our Mission
Our mission is to create a viable Union that will not only achieve improvements in the welfare of its members but will also be a major player in the development of the education sector and the nation at large
Our Vision
To deepen labour relations and enrich the procedure and process of enhancing the wellbeing/welfare of its members in particular, and the generality of Nigerians and mankind as a whole
Aim and Objectives
We the members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) desiring to live in unity, harmony and progress amongst ourselves as one social, united Union, for the protection and defence of the interest of our members under the guidance of God, have decided to come together for the protection of our welfare through healthy interactions amongst ourselves in line with Trade Union guidelines and in the presentation of matters of common interest:
To organize into a single and coherent trade union and serve as an umbrella organization for all Senior Administrative, Technical, Professional and other Senior Non-Teaching Staff of all Nigerian Universities and inter-University Centres in Nigeria who elect to be members.
To regulate the relationship between each senior non-teaching staff and another, and between the employers and individual members of the Union.
To work for the establishment and the maintenance of equitable, reasonable and proper hours of work, appropriate salaries and wages, as well as other conditions of service.
To establish and maintain a high standard of work ethics, discipline and professional practice.
To work for the advancement of members of the Union by way of training, retraining and further.
To provide benefit and assistance (including financial support) to Union members under the conditions laid down in this Constitution.
To encourage members of the Union to participate actively in the decision making process of the Union and to give support to other related activities of the University system and the Nation as a whole.
To promote, protect and advance the economic, social and cultural interests of the University system in Nigeria.
To motivate, co-ordinate, encourage and unite all members for the upliftment of the standard of education within the University system in Nigeria.
To engage in such other lawful activities as are compatible with the Trade Union Laws and not inconsistent with trade union spirit and practice.
To promote and advance the economic, political and social rights as well as the general welfare of the members of the Union.
To promote and sustain positive industrial relations practice in the Nigerian University System by strengthening collective bargaining between the employers and employees within the system.
SSANU Organogram
Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities Organogram.
