Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The Sokoto Zonal Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), covering 10 universities across the North-West, has issued a strong warning over what it described as the poor and selective implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement, cautioning that continued neglect of lecturers’ welfare and unresolved governance issues could plunge Nigerian universities into another round of industrial unrest.
The union, led by its Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Abubakar Sabo, accused both federal and state governments of failing to fully implement key provisions of the agreement unveiled in January 2026, thereby creating tension across public tertiary institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Sokoto, Sabo said the inability of government to properly integrate the agreement into national fiscal and administrative frameworks had resulted in delays, inconsistencies and selective compliance by some university authorities.
“The Sokoto Zone is seriously alarmed that several federal and state owned universities are yet to implement vital components of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement,” he stated.
According to the union, unresolved issues include the non payment of academic and professorial allowances, earned academic allowances, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls, annual increments and unremitted third party deductions affecting lecturers in institutions across the zone.
ASUU urged governments at all levels to immediately honour every aspect of the agreement to preserve industrial harmony and ensure stability in the nation’s university system.
“We call on the Federal and State Governments to faithfully implement all components of the agreement in the interest of sustainable development and peace within Nigerian universities,” Sabo added.
The union also decried lingering welfare concerns affecting academics nationwide, including the outstanding 25–35 per cent salary award arrears, withheld salaries linked to the 2022 ASUU strike, delayed pension payments and the non-harmonisation of pensions for retired university workers.
ASUU further highlighted challenges facing state owned universities in the Sokoto Zone, especially the non implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and unpaid earned academic allowances for lecturers engaged in parallel and special academic programmes.
The union specifically cited alleged cases involving Sokoto State University and Shehu Shagari University of Education, where lecturers handling multiple academic sessions were reportedly yet to receive corresponding entitlements.
It also accused some university administrations of failing to remit cooperative deductions and union dues, while promotion arrears and annual salary increments dating back to 2020 allegedly remain unpaid in several institutions.
“Universities cannot function effectively when lecturers are denied their lawful entitlements for years. Nigerian academics deserve dignity, fairness and prompt payment of their earnings,” Sabo declared.
The union warned that continued delays in addressing the issues could provoke widespread industrial disputes capable of disrupting academic activities nationwide.
On national education policies, the Sokoto Zone aligned itself with resolutions of ASUU’s National Executive Council rejecting several recent policy decisions in the education sector.
Among the policies criticized was the reported reversal of the mother-tongue policy in early childhood education without adequate empirical justification.
The union also faulted the proposed establishment of foreign affiliated universities under the Transnational Education Framework, arguing that such initiatives could weaken local institutions and further undermine Nigeria’s higher education system.
ASUU equally rejected the compulsory enrolment of academics into the Nigerian Educational Repository Data system without broad stakeholder consultation.
The union also opposed moves to phase out certain humanities and social science courses under proposed labour market reforms.
“All academic disciplines remain critical to national growth and development. Nigeria’s unemployment crisis is rooted in poor governance, weak economic policies, corruption and misplaced priorities, not academic programmes,” the zonal coordinator stressed.
ASUU further condemned what it described as increasing cases of maladministration, lack of transparency and politically influenced appointments within Nigerian universities.
According to the union, the growing trend of questionable academic appointments and irregular designations poses serious threats to the integrity, autonomy and international reputation of the country’s university system.
“Appointments into university leadership positions must be guided strictly by merit, transparency, accountability and due process,” the union insisted.
On the nation’s security situation, ASUU expressed concern over worsening insecurity, economic hardship and rising political tensions, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
The union noted that banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and communal violence continue to disrupt academic activities and endanger students, lecturers and surrounding communities.
“Many communities have been displaced, while staff and students in several institutions now operate under fear and uncertainty,” Sabo lamented.
ASUU therefore called on governments at all levels to prioritise the protection of lives and property, address poverty and unemployment, and create conditions necessary for educational stability and national development.
The Sokoto Zone reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of academics and sustaining advocacy for improved funding, welfare and autonomy of public universities across Nigeria.
