By Chinedu Sabastine
The leadership of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to desist from the policy of divide and rule within the university system.
During a thanksgiving service at the Wesley Methodist Church Cathedral in Uwani, Enugu State, the National Vice President of SSANU, South East, Comrade Engr. Okey Animba, emphasized that the university system is unified and should be treated as such.
He pointed out that the government’s divide-and-rule tactics are evident and that various unions—such as ASUU, NASU, NAT, NLC, and NUJ—are all part of the university system, which functions as a single entity.
Animba highlighted the roles of SSANU members as essential administrators responsible for opening gates, maintaining facilities, and ensuring the smooth running of universities, which are often overlooked in discussions that focus solely on academics.
He appealed to the government to recognize the unity of the system and to stop using divisive strategies.
Animba also called on divine intervention, expressing faith that their demands for improved welfare, including unpaid allowances and withheld salaries, will be met promptly.
He emphasized that SSANU’s primary concern is the welfare of its members and the proper care of the university system.
Animba however, criticized the government’s focus on the 2027 election, implying that political interests are taking precedence over the welfare of university staff.
“The federal government of Nigeria is using divide and rule system and what demonstrated here is a practical example that the University system is one. You can see in our team, we have Association of Staff Union of University, ASUU, NASUU, NAT, NLC and NUJ are here to show you that the system called University is one.
“Because SSANU admits and if we don’t admit students, how will they graduate? They can’t graduate. The job of ASUU is for teaching and research but we the SSANU members are the administrators and the core people in the universities because if we don’t open the gate nobody enters the university, if we don’t clean the office nobody enters the office, If we don’t pass you, you can’t graduate, in the hostel, if we don’t give you water and light, you will not have it and we will cripple the system but we don’t want to do that.
“We have all the engineers, core professional, Bursar, Registrar and if you are not paid for what you are doing you will complain. So, what we are asking is for the federal government to know that the system is one and they should stop using divide and rule system.
“We know that there is nothing God can not do and we have come to place this demand in the hands of God to help divinely so that all our demands be approved in no distance time because the welfare and well being of our members are paramount. You can see God is in control, working and in charge.
“Also, we have come here to say thank you Jesus for your faithfulness because without him we can do nothing. And It’s in our nature that before we do anything for the year, we say Jesus take off so that our activities belong to him. And I know God is in control, Our demand is basically for the welfare of the NASSU members and University system.
“Federal Government should take proper care of the university system. We have a lot of unpaid allowances, withheld salaries. When we did strike, they said no work no pay and we are saying they should pay us the remaining two months salaries and we know that the Federal Government has the money to pay us but is interested in 2027 election which they don’t even know if they will be alive by then,”he said.
