Rismadarvoice- 20 November 2025
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Sokoto Zone, has warned that Nigeria’s public universities may soon be plunged into another nationwide industrial crisis unless the Federal Government shows genuine commitment to resolving lingering issues affecting the tertiary education sector.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Sokoto, the Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Abubakar Sabo, accused the government of exhibiting “inconsistent and disappointing behaviour” during ongoing negotiations, despite ASUU’s suspension of its warning strike in October to allow for peaceful engagement.
Prof. Sabo explained that the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) suspended the strike to create a one-month window for renegotiation, following widespread support from students, parents, labour unions, and other stakeholders.
However, he said the government has failed to address critical issues bordering on lecturers’ salaries, university autonomy, and the deteriorating state of infrastructure especially in state-owned institutions.
According to him, although some non-monetary issues have recorded minimal progress, the proposed salary increment for lecturers remains “grossly inadequate and incapable of reversing the massive brain drain crippling Nigerian universities.”
The union also dismissed the Federal Government’s recent partial payment of promotion arrears and release of third-party deductions—some outstanding since 2017, describing them as mere confidence-building gestures rather than meaningful achievements.
ASUU further decried the worsening condition of state universities within the Sokoto Zone.
The union listed several concerns, including the absence of governing councils at Shehu Shagari University of Education, unpaid allowances and other deductions at Sokoto State University, stalled promotions and Earned Academic Allowances at AFUSTA, and the lack of enabling laws for federal universities in Birnin Kebbi and Gusau, despite their establishment over a decade ago.
Prof. Sabo also noted that the Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru, remains the only university in the country that commenced operations without a take-off grant.
Challenging government claims of fiscal constraints, ASUU cited FAAC records showing an increase in federal allocations from ₦3.42 trillion in 2022 to ₦4.65 trillion in 2024, while states’ allocations rose from ₦3.92 trillion to ₦5.81 trillion within the same period.
“This clearly shows that the real challenge is not funding, but political will,” the union stated.
ASUU called on traditional rulers, civil society groups, students, labour unions, and the general public to intensify pressure on the Federal Government to honour its agreements and safeguard the future of Nigeria’s university system.
While reaffirming its commitment to constructive dialogue, the union warned that failure to reach a holistic settlement within the remaining days of the renegotiation window could trigger a renewed nationwide strike.
“The struggle continues,” Sabo declared.
