The Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU) has called on the Federal Government to immediately implement the outstanding arrears arising from the 35 per cent salary increase approved for non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities, insisting that the agreement reached with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) must be fully honoured.
The demand was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of ARNU’s 4th Annual Workshop and 79th Business Meeting, held from July 6 to 10 at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Auditorium in Abuja. The meeting brought together registrars from federal, state and private universities to deliberate on the future of university administration in an era of rapid technological transformation.
Reading the communiqué, the Registrar of Bingham University and Chairman of the Communiqué Committee, Daburi Bello Misal, said the association acknowledged the agreement between the Federal Government and SSANU and urged the government to implement the outstanding arrears resulting from the 35 per cent salary increase approved for non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities with effect from January 1, 2026.
The registrars also called on the National Universities Commission and other relevant regulatory agencies to harmonise professional cadres and nomenclature across Nigerian universities to eliminate irregular and unauthorised offices created outside approved career structures. They further urged ARNU to work with relevant stakeholders to discourage the appointment of non-career administrators as university registrars.
The association criticised the growing use of unofficial titles such as Personal Assistants, First Ladies and Special Assistants in universities, describing the practice as inconsistent with established career structures and international best practices.
ARNU also maintained that academic staff should no longer be appointed to head non-academic directorates such as Academic Planning, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Sports, Works and Physical Planning, arguing that such positions should remain within the professional administrative cadre to preserve its integrity.
The association called for improved welfare packages for retiring registrars and bursars, urging the Federal Government and university authorities to establish an enhanced post-retirement welfare framework, including sustainable retirement benefits and life salaries comparable to those enjoyed by retired professors.
It further appealed to the Federal Government to tackle the persistent underfunding of federal universities while encouraging institutions to fully digitise registry operations through integrated human resource management systems and domesticate data protection policies in compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Act.
The communiqué reaffirmed that the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar remain the administrative backbone of every university, stressing that institutional excellence depends on disciplined implementation, effective leadership, accountability, professionalism and continuous capacity development rather than the mere existence of policies.
ARNU also expressed concern over what it described as the increasing exclusion of registrars from performing their statutory responsibilities, particularly in the selection of principal officers in some universities. According to the association, sidelining chief administrative officers in critical governance processes weakens institutional administration and undermines established university governance structures.
The registrars called for stronger collaboration between vice-chancellors and registrars through regular consultative meetings ahead of Governing Council and Senate sessions. They noted that such engagements would improve coordination, strengthen decision-making and enable universities to proactively address institutional risks.
On capacity development, ARNU emphasised the need for continuous training and retraining of registrars and other administrative officers, saying sustained professional development is essential to improving service delivery, strengthening quality assurance and promoting effective governance across Nigerian universities.
The association also urged the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to sponsor ARNU’s foreign educational tours to expose members to global best practices in university administration.
The workshop concluded with ARNU reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, integrity, accountability and excellence in university administration. The association pledged to sustain engagement with the Federal Government, the National Universities Commission and other stakeholders in advancing reforms aimed at strengthening governance, enhancing administrative leadership and positioning Nigerian universities for sustainable growth in an increasingly technology-driven higher education environment.
The call comes amid ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to address long-standing welfare concerns within Nigeria’s university system. In recent years, disputes over salaries, earned allowances and working conditions have triggered industrial actions by university unions, including SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU). While the government has taken steps to improve remuneration for university workers, stakeholders have continued to press for the full implementation of agreements to prevent further disruptions to academic activities and improve morale among non-teaching staff.
