The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Sokoto Zone, has accused the Federal Government of insincerity in resolving lingering disputes in the university sector and warned that industrial action may be imminent.
At a press briefing in Sokoto, Zonal Coordinator Prof. Abubakar Sabo said the government had failed to honour agreements and address key welfare concerns, despite years of negotiations.
He cited the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, the withholding of three-and-a-half months’ salaries, unpaid promotion arrears, unimplemented wage increases, and chronic underfunding of public universities as major grievances. “The government has eroded our trust. Time is running out to avert industrial action,” Sabo stated.
The union also rejected the newly launched Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a loan scheme for academic and non-academic staff, calling it a “poisoned chalice” and insisting on payment of outstanding entitlements instead.
ASUU further criticised poor pension arrangements for retired professors and flagged operational gaps at several universities within its zone, including unpaid arrears and lack of enabling laws or governing councils.
The union urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to avoid another nationwide strike that could disrupt academic activities across public universities.
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