ASUU threatens fresh strike over unpaid salaries, agreement implementation

ASUU also said the governments of Kano, Edo, Plateau, Taraba, Gombe and Bayelsa had indicated plans to commence implementation of the agreement in September or October.

The union urged other state governments to take similar action, warning that continued delays could trigger serious industrial unrest in their public universities.

On the issue of withheld salaries, ASUU noted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had released four months out of the 7.5 months of salaries withheld during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, the union insisted that the remaining 3.5 months should be paid without further delay.

“We have consistently acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for paying four out of the withheld salaries. However, leaving out the unpaid balance does not give his government the full credit of a labour-friendly administration,” ASUU said.

The union also raised concerns over pension contributions, cooperative deductions and check-off dues allegedly deducted from the salaries of its members but not remitted.

According to ASUU, the unremitted funds run into billions of naira and have remained outstanding for several months.

The union warned that the unresolved issues, combined with what it described as the poor implementation of the 2025 agreement, were threatening industrial harmony in Nigeria’s public universities.

“In no mistaken terms, ASUU posits that the non- or haphazard implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement by federal and state governments is a recipe for industrial crisis in Nigeria’s public universities,” it stated.

ASUU called on both the Federal Government and state governments to urgently address the issues, maintaining that it should not be held responsible if the suspended strike action is eventually resumed.

The union said its National Executive Council had resolved that the strike could be activated again if the outstanding concerns were not addressed promptly.

“ASUU-NEC resolved to notify all concerned that the Union may activate its suspended strike action without any further notice if the critical issues raised in this release are not speedily addressed,” the union stated.