The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Sule Lamido University Kafin Hausa (SLUK) has given the Jigawa State Government a two-week deadline. They want the government to implement the new university salary structure. If not, they plan to go on strike.
This warning came in a press release dated 1 September, signed by ASUU-SLUK chairperson, Idris Chiromawa.
The union said its members have been patient while receiving lower pay for about seven months. This was after the new salary package was approved.
ASUU-SLUK pointed out that many other state-owned universities in Nigeria have already put the new salary structure into effect. But the Jigawa State Government has been delaying this.
The union mentioned that it has sent three formal letters to the Commissioner for Higher Education, Yusif Chamo, and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Haruna Aliyu. They also reached out to respected community leaders, but there has been no response.
Main demands and concerns
ASUU criticized the problems with the state's Integrated Payroll and Personnel Management System (IPPMS). They called the system ineffective and said it does not fit university needs. They are asking for an immediate exemption to follow university law.
The union laid out its main demands. They want immediate implementation of the ASUU-Federal Government agreement and full payment of salary arrears from January 2026 to now.
They also want the university to be exempt from the IPPMS system to fit its unique needs. Additionally, they want all unremitted salary deductions paid and the release of the 2024/2025 Earned Academic Allowance (EAA).
Other demands include settling selective responsibility allowances, paying annual increments held back since 2023, and clearing promotion arrears owed to staff, including professors, since 2024.
ASUU is also calling for a review of the government’s decision to deduct 0.7 percent from the required 2 percent Local Government contribution to the university. They want to ensure better funding for other institutions too.
The union said it has tried all peaceful ways to resolve the issues. They stated, "If the Government does not address these issues by the end of the two-week notice, we will have no choice but to go on strike."
The two-week deadline started on 1 September 2026 and will end in mid-September. This puts academic activities at the state-owned university at risk.
Government response
In response, the state government said the two-week notice from ASUU came from a misunderstanding between the two sides.
Commissioner Yusif Chamo told reporters on Wednesday that most of the union's demands have been approved and are waiting to be put into action.
He said this situation was surprising given the government's efforts to improve education in the state.
Chamo explained that since Governor Umar Namadi took office, the state has focused on improving education. They have worked on teacher shortages and built necessary facilities in universities.
He highlighted major projects at the university. "Governor Namadi recently inspected a ₦10 billion project at SLUK. This includes building the Faculty of Medicine, finishing three female hostels, and developing a Wetland Research Centre among other projects."
On staff welfare and payments, Chamo said the state has made progress in settling outstanding arrears. "We have done our best to pay off these debts. It was surprising that the union decided to threaten strike action, which is due to a breakdown in communication."
Chamo said the issue stems from a lack of dialogue between the union and the government. They had already started addressing the union's demands.
Regarding the agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU, Chamo explained that the state got the necessary documents from the National Universities Commission (NUC) just last week. They quickly shared this with university leaders to include the financial needs in the budget.
To resolve the issue quickly, the state has called an emergency meeting with top officials, including the Attorney-General, the Accountant-General, and the Commissioner for Higher Education, plus union representatives.
Chamo expressed confidence that they could resolve the issue peacefully once everyone reviews the current progress and budget plans.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇