SSANU Threatens Strike, Calls for Wage Funds, Speedy Conclusion Of Renegotiation Course of

The Senior Employees Affiliation of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has requested the federal authorities to right away reconvene the renegotiation course of; finish wage delays and pay withheld salaries to avert imminent industrial motion.

The affiliation additionally urged the federal government to implement wage increments and guarantee honest disbursement of Earned Allowances to all eligible employees.

In a communique signed by the Nationwide President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, the union demanded the safety of jobs underneath any reform framework; and the institution of a standing consultative mechanism between authorities and college unions for steady dialogue and early dispute decision. 

It condemned the persistent delays within the cost of salaries of workers in federal and a few state universities, in addition to the non-payment of authorised increments and different withheld entitlements.

“Council notes that these recurring delays have imposed extreme hardship on members and their households, weakened morale, and undermined productiveness throughout the college system. 

“NEC subsequently calls for the speedy settlement of all excellent salary-related points and the institution of a dependable and unified wage cost construction,” a part of the communique learn. 

SSANU stated that the continued neglect of the welfare of college employees and the persistent delay in resolving essential labour points can not be tolerated. 

“The federal authorities is hereby known as upon to take speedy, honest, and decisive steps to conclude the renegotiation course of, settle all excellent entitlements, and restore confidence in its dedication to industrial justice inside the college system.

SSANU has demonstrated maturity, endurance, and goodwill within the face of provocation and hardship.

“Nevertheless, NEC makes it abundantly clear that if authorities fails to behave inside the stipulated timeframe, the Union is not going to hesitate to embark on decisive and lawful industrial motion. 

“SSANU stays firmly united and totally ready to defend the rights, welfare, and dignity of its members,” it stated. 

ENDS

CPPE Urges CBN to Hyperlink Banking Sector to Actual Financial system After Recapitalisation Features

18-word Excerpt:
CPPE urges CBN to reconnect banks to actual economic system, increase SME lending and drive development after recapitalisation success.

Dike Onwuamaeze With the banking recapitalisation train largely achieved, the the Centre for the Promotion of Non-public Enterprise (CPPE) has urged the Central {Bank} of Nigeria (CBN) and the fiscal authorities to see the reconnecting of the banking system to the actual economic system as the following essential part {of financial} service sector’s reform.

The CPPE expressed this view on Sunday in its coverage temporary titled “{Bank} Recapitulation: Robust Progress, However Pressing Have to Reconnect Banks to the Actual Financial system,” which counseled the CBN for the profitable implementation of the {bank} recapitalisation programme.

The temporary decried the scenario the place the providers sector is accounting for about 55 per cent of whole credit score, whereas manufacturing, agriculture and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are receiving about 14 per cent, 5.0 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively, saying that that is inconsistent with Nigeria’s aspirations for {economic} development.

The Chief Government Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, stated within the temporary that “the recapitalisation programme has efficiently strengthened the resilience and stability of Nigeria’s banking system,” which the CBN deserved commendation, particularly for delivering a reform course of that has been each efficient and non-disruptive.

“Nevertheless, the final word success of this reform can be decided not simply by stronger stability sheets, however by the extent to which the banking system helps funding, enterprise, job creation and {economic} transformation.

“At this essential juncture, the precedence should shift from capital adequacy to {economic} impression.

“Nigeria wants not simply stronger banks, however banks that work for the economic system.”

Yusuf stated that the following part of banking reform ought to concentrate on learn how to “improve non-public sector credit score as a share of GDP to at the least 30 per cent within the medium time period, de-risk lending to SMEs by credit score ensures and improved credit score infrastructure and the strengthening of the financial coverage transmission to make sure decrease coverage charges translate to actual sector lending.”

He additionally urged the CBN to incentivise long-term financing for productive sectors, promote a extra balanced sectoral allocation of credit score, increase entry to shopper credit score to stimulate combination demand and tackle the crowding-out results of public sector borrowing.

The CPPE acknowledged the profitable implementation of the {bank} recapitalisation programme marked a major milestone within the ongoing effort to strengthen the resilience, stability and capability of the Nigerian banking system.

It additionally stated the orderly and non-disruptive method the recapitalisation train was carried with out experiences of depositor losses, compelled mergers, job losses or erosion of shareholder worth marked a major enchancment over previous consolidation episodes and mirrored stronger regulatory capability, improved market self-discipline and larger resilience inside the banking system.

“Nevertheless, whereas recapitalisation has considerably strengthened the capability of banks to soak up shocks, assist large-ticket transactions and improve {financial} system stability, the essential query now could be whether or not this stronger banking system will sufficiently assist the actual economic system,” Yusuf stated, noting that presently “the proof means that this linkage stays weak.”

He identified that non-public sector credit score as a share of GDP in Nigeria continues to be solely about 17 per cent as of 2025, in comparison with a Sub-Saharan African common of about 25 per cent and roughly 34 per cent for lower-middle-income nations. 

He acknowledged additional that peer economies similar to South Africa, Mauritius and Cape Verde are recording 57.5 per cent, 69.8 per cent and 66.3 per cent respectively to show considerably stronger {financial} intermediation.

This hole underscores a persistent structural disconnect between the {financial} system and productive sectors of the economic system.

In accordance with him, shopper credit score in Nigeria remained extraordinarily low at about 7.0 per cent of whole credit score, in comparison with a sub-Saharan African common of 15–25 per cent. 

Yusuf stated: “Extra critically, credit score to SMEs is alarmingly low. SME credit score accounts for less than about 1.0 per cent of whole credit score, in comparison with a median of about 5.0 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa.

“That is significantly troubling on condition that SMEs contribute roughly 50 per cent of GDP and over 80 per cent of employment, with an estimated financing hole of about ₦48 trillion, in response to PwC.

“This represents one of the crucial vital weaknesses in Nigeria’s {financial} structure.”

He averred that there are necessary structural issues relating to the character and distribution of credit score within the economic system.

Yusuf stated: “A big proportion of {bank} lending stays short-term in nature. 

“Credit score with maturity of lower than one 12 months, accounts for about 55 per cent of whole credit score, whereas long-term credit score that’s above three Yr’s accounts for less than about 25 per cent.

“This construction shouldn’t be aligned with the financing wants of essential sectors similar to manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure and actual property.”

He added that the sectoral allocation of credit score has remained skewed. 

“The providers sector accounts for about 55 per cent of whole credit score, whereas manufacturing receives about 14 per cent and agriculture simply 5.0 per cent. 

“This sample is inconsistent with Nigeria’s aspirations for {economic} diversification, industrialisation and job creation,” he stated.

The CPPE stated that a number of elements have continued to constrain the efficient transmission {of financial} sector power to the actual economic system. 

These elements embody the crowding-out impact of excessive authorities borrowing, a decent financial coverage setting and elevated rates of interest, excessive threat notion and stringent collateral necessities for SMEs and an incentive construction that favour short-term, low-risk {financial} investments over actual sector lending

Subsequently, “with recapitalisation largely achieved,” the CPPE “urges the CBN and the fiscal authorities to prioritise the following essential part of reform, which needs to be reconnecting the banking system to the actual economic system.”

Onyebuchi Ezigbo  

Times Nigeria