The Sokoto Zonal Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned that Nigerian universities may face another round of industrial unrest over the alleged poor implementation of the 2025 agreement signed with the Federal Government.
Speaking in Sokoto, the zonal coordinator, Abubakar Sabo, accused federal and state governments of failing to fully implement key parts of the agreement, including payment of academic allowances, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls, annual increments and withheld deductions affecting lecturers across universities in the North-West.
The union also decried unpaid 25–35 per cent salary award arrears, withheld salaries linked to the 2022 strike action, delayed pension payments and the non-harmonisation of pensions for retired academics.
ASUU alleged that some institutions still owed lecturers entitlements dating back to 2020 and had failed to remit cooperative deductions and union dues.
ASUU further raised concerns over conditions in state-owned universities, citing Sokoto State University and Shehu Shagari University of Education, where lecturers handling multiple academic sessions were allegedly yet to receive corresponding allowances.
The union rejected recent education policy proposals, including the reversal of the mother-tongue policy and the establishment of foreign-affiliated universities under the Transnational Education Framework, warning that such policies could weaken Nigeria’s higher education system.
ASUU also condemned what it described as increasing cases of maladministration, politically influenced appointments and lack of transparency in universities, while expressing concern over worsening insecurity, kidnapping and economic hardship affecting academic activities nationwide.
The union urged governments at all levels to address lecturers’ welfare, improve university funding and ensure full implementation of agreements to prevent further disruption in the tertiary education sector.
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