The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised the alarm over deteriorating conditions at tertiary institutions under the control of Sokoto State, threatening to down tools if urgent action is not taken by authorities to address long-standing grievances.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the leadership of ASUU chapters at Sokoto State University and Shehu Shagari University of Education expressed deep concern over what they described as persistent neglect of staff welfare. The statement, which was co-signed by Dr. Bello Musa of the SSU branch and Dr. Shamsu Kabiru of the SSUE branch, warned that the current state of affairs could soon force the union to embark on industrial action, severely disrupting academic programmes.
The union highlighted that multiple appeals to the state government have yielded little to no progress, and that the continued inaction is eroding the foundation of industrial harmony at the two institutions. “These challenges have dragged on for far too long, and despite our constant reminders, there has been no meaningful response. We believe that resolving them is important for sustaining a productive atmosphere and enhancing overall output,” the statement read.
Among the key demands put forward by ASUU is the immediate implementation of the 2025 agreement between the union and the Federal Government, particularly regarding the payment of special allowances meant for teaching and research staff. The union noted that while federal universities have begun to see progress on this front, lecturers at state-owned institutions in Sokoto are still being marginalized.
ASUU is also calling for the settlement of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) that have remained unpaid for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions. The union argued that since salary structures are negotiated centrally within the national framework, it is unacceptable for state institutions to exclude their lecturers from the benefits enjoyed by their federal counterparts.
The union warned that unless the government acts swiftly, the growing frustration among lecturers could lead to a complete shutdown of academic activities. This development reflects a broader trend of increasing tension within Sokoto’s higher education sector, as unions across the country push for better funding, fair remuneration, and full adherence to existing agreements.