The Bauchi zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), comprising six universities, has announced its readiness to embark on a fresh strike, citing the Federal Government’s failure to address the union’s unresolved issues.
The six universities that make up the Bauchi Zone of ASUU include the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State; University of Jos, Plateau State; Bauchi State University; Plateau State University, Bokkos; and Gombe State University.
Prof. Timothy Namo, the union’s zonal coordinator, spoke at a press conference in Jos on Saturday and expressed dismay that the government had not taken any significant action to address the problems despite earlier warnings and a two-week warning strike.
Flanked by other ASUU leaders and branch chairmen in the area, Namo recalled that the union had given the government a month to wrap up renegotiations and settle lingering concerns, but there was only a week left, and nothing significant had been accomplished.
“The paltry increase proposed by the government is a drop in the ocean and far below expectations,” Namo said, adding that the union had rejected the offer.
He expressed worry that some government functionaries were undermining the renegotiation process and misrepresenting the offers made.
The ASUU leader questioned the government’s commitment to education, citing statistics that showed a significant increase in revenue allocation to states and the federal government, yet education continued to suffer.
Namo said, “ASUU NEC expressed concerns over the attitudes of some government functionaries who are bent on undermining the renegotiation process by subtle misrepresentation of the offers made.
“The part-payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2017 and the release of third-party deductions, which are part of members’ unpaid benefits for years, can at best be described as a weak confidence-boosting exercise.
“There is no sufficient evidence from the government’s response so far to suggest that education is a priority in Nigeria and that the government truly desires to avert crises in the universities.”
He called on stakeholders, including traditional rulers, students, civil society organizations, and the National Assembly, to prevail on the government to address the union’s demands and avert a crisis in Nigerian universities.
“The remaining days to the expiration of the 4-week window must be tactfully and judiciously used to holistically resolve all outstanding issues in order to uplift the living conditions of academics in Nigeria. The surest way to protect the future of our children is to massively invest in education.
“Whereas the government claims that there is a paucity of funds, evidence-based statistics suggest the contrary. For example, in 2022, the data from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee show that states received a total of 3.92 trillion naira. The figure in 2024 rose to 5.81 trillion naira, an increase of over 62%.
“Similarly, the Federal Government received 3.42 trillion naira in 2022 and 4.65 trillion naira in 2024, an increase of over 70%. These statistics confirm that it is not lack of funds but lack of political will and misplacement of priorities that make education suffer in Nigeria.
“The Union once again calls on traditional rulers, leaders of thought, students, civil society organizations, the NLC, and the National Assembly to prevail on the government to do the needful in order to avoid further crises in Nigerian universities,” he added.
The union’s demands include improved salaries, better working conditions, and the release of unpaid benefits.
The strike notice has raised concerns about the potential disruption of academic activities in the six universities in the zone.
Resolutions from the National Executive Council meeting of ASUU, held at Taraba State University, Jalingo, on November 8–9 and outlined in a statement by the union’s president, Prof. Chris Piwuna, called on the Federal Government to resolve lingering issues within 10 days of the one-month window.
