The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi Zone, on Saturday declared its readiness to embark on another strike over what it described as the Federal Government’s failure to address longstanding issues affecting its members.
The Bauchi Zone comprises six institutions: Federal University Kashere (Gombe), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (Bauchi), University of Jos (Plateau), Bauchi State University, Plateau State University Bokkos, and Gombe State University.
Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Timothy Namo, told journalists in Jos that despite earlier warnings and a two-week warning strike, the union was disappointed that the government had yet to take “tangible and sincere steps” toward resolving pending matters.
Namo, who addressed the press alongside other zonal leaders and branch chairmen, said the union previously gave the government a one-month window to conclude renegotiations, but with barely a week left, “nothing substantial has been achieved.”
He described the government’s proposed salary increase as “a paltry offer” that fell far below expectations, noting that the union had rejected it.
According to him, some government officials were undermining the renegotiation process by misrepresenting offers, thereby weakening trust and slowing progress.
“The part-payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2017 and the release of third-party deductions, which are members’ unpaid benefits, can only be seen as weak confidence-boosting gestures,” he said.
The ASUU leader also questioned the government’s commitment to education, citing revenue growth at both federal and state levels.
He said that figures from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) showed an increase in allocations to states from N3.92 trillion in 2022 to N5.81 trillion in 2024, while federal allocations grew from N3.42 trillion to N4.65 trillion within the same period.
“These statistics confirm that the problem is not inadequate funding, but lack of political will and misplaced priorities,” he said.
Namo urged traditional rulers, civil society groups, students, labour unions and the National Assembly to intervene and prevail on the government to prevent another shutdown of universities.
He said the remaining days within the one-month window must be “tactfully and judiciously utilised” to resolve outstanding issues related to salaries, welfare, and unpaid benefits.
ASUU’s National Executive Council, after its meeting at Taraba State University on Nov. 8–9, issued a 10-day directive for the Federal Government to address all lingering issues.
The threat of a fresh strike has raised concerns over possible disruptions in academic activities across the six universities in the zone.
