ASUU Threatens Strike in Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara Universities

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Sokoto Zone, has warned that it may embark on an indefinite strike across state-owned universities in Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara states if the governments fail to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.

The warning was issued on Wednesday in Sokoto by the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Abubakar Sabo, who expressed concern over what he described as the continued delay in implementing key provisions of the agreement despite repeated engagements with the affected state governments and university authorities.

According to Sabo, the union had formally notified the governments about the agreement following its public presentation in January 2026, but little progress had been made.

He noted that several state universities were yet to fully implement important aspects of the agreement, including the integration of the Consolidated Academic and Tool Allowance (CATA), Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), and Professorial Allowance into the monthly salary structure.

Sabo identified the affected institutions as Abdullahi Fodiyo University of Science and Technology, Aliero (AFUSTA) in Kebbi State, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina (UMYUK), and Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara (ZAMSUT).

He described the situation in Kebbi as particularly troubling, alleging that academic staff of AFUSTA had not received their Earned Academic Allowances dating back to 2014.

The ASUU leader said the union’s National Executive Council (NEC), at its emergency meeting held on June 21 at the University of Abuja, resolved to take a firm position on the implementation of the 2025 agreement and other unresolved issues affecting lecturers.

He stressed that continued delays had resulted in the accumulation of promotion arrears and unpaid third-party deductions, adding that academics deserved timely payment of their lawful entitlements.

“The continued neglect of these welfare issues is encouraging brain drain in our universities and undermining the quality of higher education,” he said.

Sabo further noted that several state universities across the country had already implemented the agreement, citing Sokoto State University, Ekiti State University, Osun State University, Benue State University and others as examples.

He therefore urged the governments of Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara states to emulate the Sokoto State Government by taking immediate steps to implement the agreement and avert industrial unrest.

Speaking on Katsina State, Sabo acknowledged the cordial relationship between ASUU and Governor Dikko Radda’s administration, noting that the government had continued the payment of Earned Academic Allowances inherited from the previous administration.

However, he said the union was still demanding payment of outstanding arrears arising from the 25 and 35 per cent salary adjustments, minimum wage consequential adjustments covering 36 months, and other outstanding benefits.

He also revealed that lecturers at Zamfara State University were owed promotion arrears dating back to January 2025.

The ASUU coordinator called on state governments to strengthen university governance by ensuring that appointments into leadership positions are based on merit, transparency, accountability and due process.

He warned that failure to address the lingering issues could trigger an indefinite strike across the affected institutions.