ASUU Warns Nasarawa Govt Over Unresolved Issues, Threatens Industrial Action

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nasarawa State University Keffi branch, has issued a strong warning to the Nasarawa State Government over what it described as the continued neglect of critical issues affecting its members, cautioning that industrial harmony at the institution cannot be guaranteed without urgent intervention.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the branch chairperson, Abdulmumini Loko, said the briefing was convened to draw attention to lingering concerns that have remained unresolved despite repeated engagements with authorities.

“Unless immediate steps are taken by the Nasarawa State Government to defray all outstanding arrears and address our demands, industrial harmony cannot be guaranteed,” Loko said.

The union listed several demands, including the immediate implementation of a 40 per cent salary increment agreed between ASUU and the federal government, improved funding for the university, and the payment of professorial allowances. It also called for the settlement of arrears of Earned Academic Allowance, outstanding salary increments of 25 per cent and 35 per cent, as well as arrears tied to the ₦70,000 minimum wage and ₦35,000 wage award.

ASUU further urged the state government to domesticate the contributory pension scheme with prompt remittance of its share, implement the compulsory retirement age for professors, regularly constitute visitation panels, and ensure retired professors receive full salaries as pensions.

Loko warned that continued delays in addressing these issues could have far-reaching consequences, including a decline in the quality of education, increased brain drain among academic staff, disruption of academic activities, and worsening staff welfare.

While reaffirming the union’s commitment to dialogue, he stressed that members’ patience was wearing thin.

“ASUU NSUK remains committed to dialogue and constructive engagement. However, the patience of our members is not infinite,” he said, adding that failure to act could force the union to take lawful steps to protect its members and the integrity of the university system.

Disputes between ASUU and government authorities have long been a recurring issue in Nigeria’s university system, often revolving around funding, staff welfare, and the implementation of agreements. These conflicts have led to repeated strikes, disrupting academic calendars and contributing to the migration of skilled academics to better-funded institutions abroad.

At state-owned institutions like Nasarawa State University Keffi, implementation of agreements reached at the federal level has remained inconsistent, largely due to state-specific funding policies.

Education stakeholders warn that unresolved disputes continue to undermine institutional stability and the overall quality of higher education in the country.