ASUU Tells FG: Honour Agreements, Prioritise Education

The Sokoto zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned the federal government to act quickly to avoid new crises in Nigeria’s public universities.

Speaking for a coalition of nine institutions, including Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University (UMYU), Abdullahi Fodiyo University of Science and Technology Aliero (AFUSTA), Sokoto State University (SSU), Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK), Federal University Gusau (FUG), Shehu Shagari University of Education Sokoto (SSUES), and Federal University of Agriculture Zuru (FUAZ), the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Abubakar Sabo, stressed the need for prompt government action during a press conference in Sokoto yesterday.

Prof. Sabo explained that the ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) met at Taraba State University, Jalingo, on November 8 and 9, 2025, to review the latest proposals from the federal government’s negotiating team.

The NEC expressed “serious concern” about the government’s inconsistent actions, warning this could lead to “grave consequences.”

He recalled that during an emergency NEC meeting on October 21, 2025, the union found that the government’s offers were “grossly inadequate.” The strike had partly achieved its aims. Thus, the NEC chose to suspend the warning strike for one month, assuming the government would negotiate in good faith. “We expect this opportunity to be used for a prompt and complete resolution,” said Prof. Sabo.

The zonal coordinator outlined three main demands. First, the government should prioritize education by increasing budget allocations and protecting the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which finances about 90 percent of university infrastructure.

Second, it must honor existing agreements, including paying promotion arrears from 2017, releasing long-overdue third-party deductions, and meeting the one-month deadline. Finally, authorities should avoid a crisis by stopping the creation of new state universities without full funding and by financing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) from sources other than TETFund.

Prof. Sabo also pointed out specific issues at various institutions. Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto (SSUES), lacks a legally formed governing council, leading to unwanted interference.

Sokoto State University (SSU) struggles with unpaid third-party and union deductions, along with overdue promotion and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) payments. Abdullahi Fodiyo University of Science and Technology, Aliero (AFUSTA), in Kebbi State, faces problems with the non-implementation and non-payment of promotion and EAA arrears, among other governance issues.

Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University (UMYU) in Katsina State deals with unpaid salaries at the approved scale and an attempted takeover of its portal, which violates university rules. Federal University Gusau (FUG) in Zamfara State and Federal University Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State have operated without enabling laws since their establishment in 2013. The Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru (FUAZ) in Kebbi State is unique in Nigeria for starting operations without a take-off grant.

Despite claims of financial difficulties, Prof. Sabo pointed out that states received ₦3.92 trillion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in 2022 and ₦5.81 trillion in 2024, a 62 percent increase. The federal government’s share rose from ₦3.42 trillion in 2022 to ₦4.65 trillion in 2024, which is more than a 70 percent increase. “These figures show that the barrier to resolving the renegotiation is political will, not a lack of funds,” he noted.

ASUU has called on traditional leaders, community heads, students, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and civil-society organizations to keep pushing the government to meet agreements, prioritize education, and ensure fair compensation for lecturers.

The union has pledged to engage constructively but cautioned that the remaining days of the one-month period should be used effectively to secure a comprehensive solution that improves the working and living conditions of academics.

“The fight goes on!” declared Prof. Sabo, urging the government to act in good faith, resolve outstanding issues quickly, and prevent future crises in Nigeria’s public universities.

The deadline for reaching a resolution is fast approaching, and stakeholders across the country are waiting for the government’s response.