Jigawa Varsity ASUU Issues Two-Week Strike Ultimatum
The Academic Staff Union of Universities at Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, has given the Jigawa State Government a two-week ultimatum to fully implement the 2025 ASUU–Federal Government agreement or face a shutdown of academic activities.
In a statement signed by the branch chairman, Idris Chiromawa, and secretary, Salisu Yunusa, the union said its congress reached the decision after a special meeting convened to review the status of the agreement and the welfare of academic staff.
The union is demanding the payment of all accrued arrears from January 2026, outstanding allowances, annual salary increments, promotion arrears, and responsibility allowances owed to entitled staff. It also insists on the immediate release of the approved 2024/2025 Earned Academic Allowance.
ASUU-SLUK further called for the remittance of all outstanding third-party deductions, warning that the continued withholding of such funds was undermining staff welfare and breaching existing labour understandings.
The branch is also pressing for the university’s exemption from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, arguing that the centralised platform does not reflect the peculiarities of state-owned institutions and has contributed to delays and discrepancies in payments.
According to the resolution, if the Jigawa State Government fails to meet the demands within two weeks, the union will commence an indefinite industrial action, effectively grounding academic activities at the institution.
The Sule Lamido University branch’s position mirrors growing agitation within ASUU chapters nationwide, many of which accuse both federal and state authorities of selectively implementing the 2025 agreement and neglecting key components related to staff welfare, university funding, and promotions.
Responding to the ultimatum, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Higher Education, Yusuf Chamo, confirmed that the government had recently received a memo from the National Universities Commission on the 2025 agreement. He said the document was still being studied and that any financial commitments would have to be integrated into the state budget.
Chamo maintained that the state reserves the right to determine funding modalities for its two public universities but stressed that the government remains open to dialogue with ASUU to avert a strike. He added that the administration of Governor Umar Namadi is committed to improving the education sector and would engage stakeholders to find a sustainable resolution.
