Akwa Ibom Unions To Halt Lectures Tomorrow Over Salary Crisis

Academic and non-academic unions in Akwa Ibom State-owned tertiary institutions have set to begin a three-day warning strike starting Monday over the state government’s failure to implement a new wage regime for teachers and other staff.

The strike follows the expiration of the October 31, 2025, deadline given to Governor Umo Eno’s administration to act on the agreement reached with the unions.

The affected institutions are Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU), Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin LGA; Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic (AkwaPoly), Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene LGA; College of Education (CoE), Afaha Nsit, Nsit Ibom LGA; and the College of Science and Technology (CST), Nnung Ukim, Ikono LGA.

This was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education of Nigeria (SSUCOEN), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

The unions said the strike was inevitable after negotiations with the state government ended in a stalemate.

“The JCU of Akwa Ibom State-owned tertiary institutions is set to commence a three-day warning strike with effect from Monday, 3rd November 2025,” the communiqué stated.

It added that the decision followed the failure of the government to resolve issues raised in the meeting of October 31, 2025, which was chaired by the Commissioner for Education.

“All members are to note that the three-day warning strike shall be total and comprehensive, as all services shall be withdrawn,” the communiqué further read.

The unions expressed disappointment over what they described as the government’s continued reluctance to implement the agreed salary and allowance structures for staff.

They listed the non-implementation of the 35 and 25 per cent 2023 reviewed consolidated salary structures for academic and non-academic staff, non-payment of N30,000 and N15,000 hazard allowances for senior and junior staff respectively, and discriminatory payment of peculiar allowances to staff of the state’s Polytechnic, College of Education, and College of Science and Technology among their grievances.

The communiqué also cited the non-payment of domestic servant allowances to academic staff of AKSU, stressing that despite repeated engagements since February 2025, no meaningful progress had been made.

“Congress observed with indignation the continued reluctance of the government to implement the demands of the JCU,” it stated.