The Academic Staff Union of Universities in Sokoto Zone has issued a stern warning that Nigeria’s public universities could plunge into another industrial dispute unless the Federal Government shows a genuine commitment to resolving persistent challenges in the tertiary education sector.
Addressing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre in Sokoto on Thursday, the Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Aabubakar Sabo, criticised the government for what he described as “inconsistent and disappointing behaviour” during negotiations, despite ASUU halting its warning strike in October to allow for peaceful engagement.
Sabo explained that the union’s National Executive Council paused the strike to Qprovide a one-month renegotiation window, following strong support from students, parents, labour unions, and other stakeholders.
“However, the government has failed to tackle key issues, particularly regarding lecturers’ salaries, university autonomy, and the decay in state-owned institutions,” he said.
The ASUU leader lamented that while some non-monetary matters have seen minimal progress, the proposed salary increase for lecturers remains “grossly inadequate and incapable of reversing the massive brain drain crippling Nigerian universities.”
He further criticised the government’s partial payment of promotion arrears and release of third-party deductions, some pending since 2017, calling them “mere confidence-building measures, not achievements.”
The union also drew attention to the worsening state of universities in Sokoto Zone, citing specific challenges: the absence of governing councils at Shehu Shagari University of Education, unpaid allowances and 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.
“For Federal University of Agriculture Zuru, it remains the only university in the country established and made operational without a take-off grant,” Sabo noted.
Rejecting government claims of financial constraints, ASUU pointed out that federal allocation rose from ₦3.42 trillion in 2022 to ₦4.65 trillion in 2024, while state allocations increased from ₦3.92 trillion to ₦5.81 trillion over the same period, according to FAAC data.
“This clearly shows that the real challenge is not funding, but political will,” the union asserted.
ASUU appealed to traditional rulers, civil society groups, students, labour unions, and the public to maintain pressure on the Federal Government to honour agreements and protect the future of Nigerian university education.
“The union remains committed to constructive dialogue but warned that failure to reach a holistic settlement within the remaining days of the renegotiation period could trigger a renewed nationwide crisis. The struggle continues,” Sabo concluded.
