ASUU — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has renewed its threat of industrial action as unresolved salary, allowance and implementation issues continue to affect several Nigerian universities.
The latest developments have emerged from universities in Sokoto and Jigawa states, where ASUU branches are demanding that state governments honour outstanding agreements and settle unpaid entitlements.
The developments come weeks after ASUU’s national leadership directed branches in 20 universities to issue 14-day ultimatums over what it described as incomplete implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.
Sokoto ASUU Gives Government Two Weeks
The ASUU branch at Sokoto State University has given the Sokoto State Government two weeks to address outstanding demands or face industrial action.
The ultimatum followed a meeting between the union and the state’s Ministry for Higher Education on September 7, after an earlier two-month period agreed for resolving the issues had expired.
According to the union, the government agreed to address its demands within two weeks and promised to communicate them to the Sokoto State Governor.
However, ASUU said several outstanding issues remain unresolved.
Its demands include the full implementation of the salary component of the 2025 ASUU-FGN Agreement, payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), remittance of outstanding third-party deductions, payment of arrears linked to the 25–35 per cent salary increase, and settlement of accumulated promotion arrears.
The union warned that failure to meet the demands within the agreed timeframe could result in industrial action that would disrupt academic activities at the university. (Punch Newspapers)
Jigawa University Moves Closer to Strike
The situation is more immediate at Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa (SLUK) in Jigawa State.
The university’s ASUU branch has announced a two-week warning strike beginning at midnight on September 15, 2026, following a rejection of the state government’s latest offer.
The decision was reached at the union’s 54th Regular Congress Meeting on September 8.
ASUU-SLUK said its members were dissatisfied with the government’s response to outstanding issues and warned that the warning strike could escalate into a total and indefinite strike if the issues remain unresolved. (Channels TV)
Among the union’s concerns are the implementation of the new salary structure, outstanding promotion arrears, the payment of Earned Academic Allowance and issues surrounding the university’s funding arrangements.
The union has also called for the university to be exempted from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Management System, which it described as ineffective for the institution. (Channels TV)
Wider ASUU Dispute
The latest developments form part of a wider dispute over the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
In August, ASUU directed branches in 20 universities to prepare for industrial action and issue 14-day ultimatums to governments and university authorities.
The affected institutions include Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; Nasarawa State University; Gombe State University; Plateau State University; Kaduna State University; Kano State University of Science and Technology; Taraba State University; Niger Delta University; Imo State University and several others.
ASUU said the move followed concerns over what it described as the “haphazard implementation” of the 2025 agreement and delays in providing funding required for its full implementation. (Vanguard News)
The agreement was reached after years of negotiations and included provisions relating to academic staff salaries, allowances, research funding and other conditions of service.
Among the key provisions was a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration, alongside revised academic allowances and other measures aimed at improving university funding and staff welfare. (Vanguard News)
However, ASUU has continued to complain that implementation has been uneven, with some universities receiving only parts of what was agreed while other outstanding payments remain unsettled.
No Nationwide Strike Yet
Despite the renewed warnings, ASUU has not announced a nationwide strike at this stage.
The immediate actions are being driven by individual university branches, although the growing number of disputes could increase pressure on the Federal and state governments.
The planned warning strike at Sule Lamido University is scheduled to begin on September 15, while the two-week window given by ASUU at Sokoto State University is also now running.
If the outstanding issues are not resolved, the disputes could spread to more institutions and potentially lead to broader industrial action.
For students and parents, the developments raise fresh concerns over possible disruption to academic calendars, particularly as university branches continue to press governments to fully implement agreements already reached.
For now, attention is focused on whether the Federal Government, state governments and affected university authorities can resolve the outstanding issues before the latest deadlines expire.
