By; SULEIMAN ADAMU, Sokoto The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has again threatened strike action, accusing the federal
By; SULEIMAN ADAMU, Sokoto
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has again threatened strike action, accusing the federal government of pushing the country’s educational sector towards crisis for remaining adamant over long standing unresolved issues bordering on its members.
The Sokoto Zonal Coordinator of the union, Professor Abubakar Sabo expressed this at a press briefing in Sokoto in Thursday that, “we have warned against the complacency of the federal and some state governments. Federal government response has all been nothing except empty promises.”
” We have written numerous letters to FG seeking amicable resolution but it turned deaf ears. It is now clear that ASUU has no option that to embark on industrial action to press the government to listen to our demands and do the needful “, the union threatened.
The union, have over the years, precisely from 2009, been pushing for re-negotiation of its agreement with the federal government on payment of its 3 and half months withheld salaries , third party deductions , outstanding 25-35% salary arrears , 4 years promotion arrears among other critical dues to its members.
The zone comprise of nine federal and states universities from across Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Accordingly , Sabo noted that the adamant behaviour of government has remained deeply troubling to members of the union indicating that government was set to jettison the collective bargaining principle.
” We therefore, caution the government to return to this principle to assess these issues in our draft agreement “, the union stressed.
ASUU also remarked that, “we state gir the umpteenth time that time is ruining our.”
However, while the union National Executive Council was aware of government’s planned meeting for August 28, 2025, the Zonal meeting of the union at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University , Sokoto framed at the delay tactics urging members to remain patient pending the outcome of the government’s meeting.
” We also decisively reject government’s proposal that members of the union should write to access the TISSF. We only need government to sign our renegotiated agreement even as we observe obstacles associated with the proliferation of Universities , lack of commitment to the retirement benefits for professor’s and other university staff among other su dry demands,” the Zonal Coordinator lamented.
Professor Sambo further appealed with a call to patriotic Nigerians to advise FG not to its members into action stressing that ” we cannot continue with this journey indefinitely while we appreciate over two years of industrial peace. We assure our members that we will act without let or hindrance to address the challenges ahead.
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