Plateau Varsity Academic Staff Demands Immediate Implementation of New Salary Scheme

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Plateau State University (PLASU) chapter, has called on the State Government to implement the new salary structure for lecturers urgently, warning of a possible comprehensive and indefinite strike action if its demands are not met.

ASUU, in a press statement signed by the branch chairman, Dr Vincent Choji, and secretary, Dr Lomka Iliya Kopdiya, on Tuesday, urged the government to “shun bureaucratic red tape” and ensure immediate implementation of the revised salary scheme agreed with the Federal Government/ASUU framework, which it said was submitted to the university management in February 2026.

The union lamented that despite the submission of the new salary template, lecturers at the institution are still being paid under the old salary structure, describing the situation as unsustainable in the face of current economic challenges.

They further said that while both the state government and university management had taken credit for the expansion of the institution through increased student enrollment and the creation of new faculties and departments, the corresponding workload on lecturers had not been addressed.

It added that academic staff were under increasing pressure, noting that “members are working harder than ever to teach and mould the character of students,” while their welfare remained neglected.

“Tragically, in recent months, the union has lost over three committed lecturers to stress and heart-related complications,” it stated.

ASUU-PLASU further raised concerns about campus security, high transportation costs, and the lack of staff accommodation, describing these as major challenges affecting productivity and welfare.

The union also accused the government of abandoning key provisions of the 2024 agreement reached with the state government, including outstanding issues relating to staff welfare and institutional funding.

It therefore demanded the immediate implementation of the new salary structure, the payment of arrears effective from 1 January 2026, the release of funds for pensions and gratuities, and the urgent resolution of all pending issues under the agreement.

The union warned that failure to meet these demands could lead to “a looming, total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action.”