The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) has announced an indefinite strike. They are protesting the federal government's failure to implement the 2025 agreement with the union and other local issues affecting the university.
The strike began on Monday, 10 August. The branch chairman, Zubairu Loko, shared this news during a press conference in Keffi.
Mr Loko explained that the union decided to strike after trying to talk to the relevant authorities. They did not get a satisfactory response about implementing the agreements.
He mentioned that the branch had received permission from ASUU's national leadership to go ahead with the strike.
"Dialogue without implementation cannot continue indefinitely," Mr Loko stated.
"We did not choose strike. The failure to implement agreements has left us with no reasonable alternative. We remain ready for genuine dialogue, but dialogue must produce implementation."
The union's decision came after a branch congress. They were unhappy with the ongoing non-implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement and other unresolved issues at the university.
Mr Loko said the branch had been patient and tried to engage in dialogue for the benefit of the university, its students, and the community.
He insisted that the government must respect and implement the agreements that were made.
This strike announcement follows ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) giving 20 university branches permission to start the process for industrial action. This was due to the slow implementation of the 2025 agreement.
On 11 August, PREMIUM TIMES learned that this decision was made after a meeting at the University of Abuja on 8 and 9 August.
In a statement on Monday, ASUU President Chris Piwuna noted that the affected branches were allowed to issue 14-day ultimatums. They can start strikes if their demands are not met.
"Consequently, NEC resolved that permission be granted to the following branches that have approached NEC for an action, to institute the procedures to embark on strike in order to press home their demands," Mr Piwuna said.
"This is to be preceded by the issuance of a 14-day ultimatum."
The universities affected include Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Gombe State University, Plateau State University, Adekunle Ajasin University, Abia State University, Imo State University, Niger Delta University, and Taraba State University.
Others are the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa Medical University, Ambrose Alli University, Kaduna State University, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, and Northwest University, Kano.
But ASUU chapters at NSUK and Imo State University have already started indefinite strikes.
At NSUK, the union's complaints go beyond the federal agreement. They have pointed out that outstanding payments exceed N3 billion. This includes Earned Academic Allowance and other salary adjustments due to the national minimum wage and pay increases for university lecturers.
Mr Loko mentioned that the branch had talked to the university management, governing council, and the Nasarawa State Government about these issues without any resolution.
"Enough is enough. We have withdrawn our services. There will be no teaching, no supervision, no research until our money is paid," he said, referring to the ASUU NEC decision.
In their latest statement, the branch asked the federal government, the Nasarawa State Government, the university’s governing council and management, and other stakeholders to step in and resolve the problems.
The union also apologized for any trouble this strike may cause students and their families. They emphasized that the responsibility for ending the strike lies with the authorities who need to address the issues.
The larger ASUU dispute focuses on the implementation of the 2025 agreement with the federal government. The union believes delays in fulfilling the agreed terms have caused new tensions in public universities.
ASUU NEC is expected to hold an emergency meeting at the end of August or early September to review the situation and decide on the next steps.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇