By Onuminya Innocent, Sokoto
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), Sokoto zone, has warned federal government to act now or risk renew crisis in Nigeria’s public universities.
The ASUU Zonal Coordinator Prof. Abubakar Sabo, who gave the warning Thursday at a press conference in Sokoto, urged government to act fast to avoid looming industrial disharmony.
The Sokoto zone of ASUU comprises 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).
Sabo explained that the ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) had met at Taraba State University, Jalingo, on 8–9 November 2025, where it was briefed on the latest offers from the federal government’s negotiating team.
He said the NEC expressed “serious concern” over the government’s inconsistent approach, warning that such behaviour could have “grave consequences.”
He recalled that at an emergency NEC meeting on 21 October 2025, the union resolved that, although the government’s offers were “grossly inadequate,” the strike had partly achieved its objectives.
Consequently, he said, the NEC suspended the warning strike as a reciprocal gesture, granting a one‑month window for renegotiation on the understanding that the government would act in good faith.
He outlined three core demands: “First, the government must prioritise education, increasing budgetary allocation and protecting the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which finances about 90 per cent of university infrastructure.
“Second, it must respect existing agreements, including settling promotion arrears dating back to 2017, releasing long‑overdue third‑party deductions and honouring the one‑month ultimatum.
“Third, authorities should avert a crisis by halting the creation of new state universities without full funding and by financing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) from sources other than TETFund.”
Sabo said Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto (SSUES) has been operating without a legally constituted governing council, leading to undue interference.
He stressed that the Sokoto State University (SSU) continues to contend with unpaid third‑party and union deductions and outstanding promotion and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) arrears.
According to him, Abdullahi Fodiyo University of Science and Technology, Aliero (AFUSTA) Kebbi state, also suffers from non‑implementation and non‑payment of promotion and EAA arrears and other governance issues.
“Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University (UMYU) Katsina State, faces non‑payment of salaries at the approved scale and an attempted external hijack of its portal, contrary to university law.
“Federal University Gusau (FUG) Zamfara state, and Federal University Birnin‑Kebbi , Kebbi state have been operating without enabling laws since their establishment in 2013.
“The Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru (FUAZ) Kebbi state, is the only university in Nigeria that was established and commenced operations without a take‑off grant”, he added.
Contrary to claims of fiscal constraint, Sabo noted that states received N3.92 trillion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in 2022 and N5.81 trillion in 2024 – an increase of over 62 per cent.
“The Federal Government’s share rose from N3.42 trillion in 2022 to N4.65 trillion in 2024, an increase of over 70 per cent. These figures show that the obstacle to resolving the renegotiation is political will, not a lack of funds,” he asserted.
He called on traditional rulers, community leaders, students, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil‑society organisations to continue urging the government to honour agreements, prioritise education and provide lecturers with a living wage.
He stated that the union will remain committed to constructive engagement while warning that the remaining days of the one‑month window must be used judiciously to secure a holistic settlement that improves the living and working conditions of academics.
He urged the government to act in good faith, resolve outstanding issues promptly and avert a renewed crisis in Nigeria’s public universities.
Leave a comment