Sokoto varsity ASUU threatens strike over unpaid entitlements

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Sokoto State University (SSU) branch, has given the Sokoto State Government two weeks to settle outstanding entitlements owed its members or face industrial action.

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The union issued the ultimatum after its congress met on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, to review its earlier resolution of August 24 and assess the state government’s commitment to resolving issues surrounding the non-payment of members’ entitlements.

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According to a press release signed by the ASUU-SSU Chairman, Bello Musa, PhD, and Secretary, Comrade Zulkallaini Shehu, the government, through the Ministry for Higher Education, met with the union on September 7.

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The union said the meeting resulted in an agreement that its demands would be addressed within two weeks, while the ministry promised to communicate the demands to the Visitor and Executive Governor of Sokoto State.

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However, ASUU expressed reservations about the fresh promise, citing what it described as previous failures by the government to honour agreements reached with the union.

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The union recalled that some of its demands were captured in an agreement reached with the government on March 4, 2024, while issues relating to the ASUU/FGN Agreement 2025 and other outstanding matters were again discussed in an agreement reached through the Ministry for Higher Education on April 28, 2026.

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It said the government had partially implemented the salary component of the agreement after the expiration of the agreed period.

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The union acknowledged the development, noting that Sokoto State University became the first state university in the North-West to partially implement the salary component of the agreement.

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It, however, said several other components remained unpaid.

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“Other components of the Agreement such as payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), non-remittance of the outstanding third-party deductions, outstanding promotion arrears, outstanding arrears for 25%-35% salary components, and accumulated annual increment arrears have not been paid,” the union stated.

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Despite its concerns, the congress resolved to accept the latest government offer and allow the two-week timeframe for the authorities to act.

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ASUU-SSU warned that failure to fulfil the promises within the stipulated period would lead to industrial action capable of disrupting academic activities at the university.

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“Failure to address the union’s demands as promised after the expiration of the two-week deadline, the union resolved to embark on an action that will disrupt all academic activities in the university including statutory meetings where our members are involved,” it warned.

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The union listed five key demands expected to be addressed within the two-week period.

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They include the proper and complete implementation of the salary component of the ASUU/FGN Agreement 2025, payment of outstanding EAA, remittance of outstanding third-party deductions, payment of arrears arising from the 25–35 per cent salary increment, and settlement of accumulated promotion arrears.

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ASUU-SSU also appealed to the people of Sokoto State to prevail on the government to honour its commitments in order to maintain a sustainable and harmonious industrial relationship at the university.

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The union expressed hope that the government would fulfil the latest promise and avert a fresh disruption of academic activities.

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