The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Sokoto Zone, has cautioned that Nigeria’s public universities may face another industrial action unless the Federal Government demonstrates genuine commitment to addressing persistent challenges in the tertiary education sector.
Speaking at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre in Sokoto, the Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Abubakar Sabo, criticised the government for what he called inconsistent and disappointing behaviour during ongoing negotiations. This comes despite ASUU’s suspension of its warning strike in October to allow for peaceful engagement.
Sabo explained that the union’s National Executive Council, NEC, had halted the strike to provide a one-month renegotiation window, prompted by strong support from students, parents, labour unions, and other stakeholders.
However, he said the government has failed to resolve critical issues, including lecturers’ salaries, university autonomy, and the deteriorating state of public institutions. While some non-monetary matters have seen minor progress, the proposed salary increases for lecturers remain grossly inadequate and incapable of reversing the massive brain drain crippling Nigerian universities.
The union also condemned the government’s recent partial payment of promotion arrears and release of third-party deductions, some pending since 2017, describing them as mere confidence-building measures rather than genuine achievements.
ASUU highlighted the worsening conditions in Sokoto Zone’s state universities, citing problems such as 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 lack of enabling laws for federal universities in Birnin Kebbi and Gusau, despite being operational for over a decade.
“For Federal University of Agriculture Zuru, it remains the only university in the country established and made operational without a take-off grant,” Sabo said.
The union dismissed claims of financial constraints, noting federal allocation rose from ₦3.42 trillion in 2022 to ₦4.65 trillion in 2024, while states’ allocations increased from ₦3.92 trillion to ₦5.81 trillion during the same period, according to FAAC data.
“This clearly shows that the real challenge is not funding, but political will,” the union stated.
ASUU urged traditional rulers, civil society, students, labour unions, and the public to continue pressing the government to honour agreements and protect the future of university education in Nigeria.
The union affirmed its commitment to dialogue but warned that failure to reach a comprehensive settlement within the remaining renegotiation period could spark a nationwide crisis.
“The struggle continues,” Sabo declared.
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