The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Sokoto State University (SSU) chapter, has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Sokoto State Government to implement outstanding agreements reached with the union or face a possible indefinite strike.
The latest warning was contained in a statement signed by the branch Chairman, Dr. Bello Musa, and Secretary, Zulkallaini Shehu, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to the union, the ultimatum followed a meeting involving ASUU representatives, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hamza Maishanu, and other university officials.
ASUU said the latest two-week period followed the expiration of an earlier two-month timeframe agreed with the government to resolve the lingering issues.
The union expressed concern that the government had previously failed to fully honour agreements reached with it, although it acknowledged that the salary component of the agreement had been partially implemented.
ASUU’s demands
The union said its outstanding demands include:
- Full implementation of the salary component of the 2025 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
ASUU wants the Sokoto State Government to completely implement the salary-related provisions contained in the 2025 agreement rather than the partial implementation already carried out.
- Payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowance (EAA).
The union is demanding payment of EAA owed to eligible academic staff.
- Remittance of outstanding third-party deductions.
ASUU is also demanding that deductions made from lecturers’ salaries on behalf of third parties but allegedly not remitted should be paid to the appropriate beneficiaries.
- Payment of 25–35 per cent salary increment arrears.
The union wants outstanding arrears arising from the 25–35 per cent salary increment paid to affected lecturers.
- Payment of accumulated promotion arrears.
ASUU is demanding payment of arrears arising from promotions already earned by its members but allegedly not fully implemented financially.
The union said the demands were contained in an agreement reached and signed with the Sokoto State Government on March 4, 2024. It also recalled another agreement reached through the state Ministry of Higher Education on April 28, 2025, after issues relating to the 2025 ASUU-FGN Agreement were added to earlier outstanding matters.
What happens after the ultimatum?
ASUU warned that if the Sokoto State Government fails to resolve the outstanding issues within the two-week period, the union may commence an indefinite strike at Sokoto State University.
The development could disrupt lectures, examinations and other academic activities at the institution if no agreement is reached before the deadline.
The union has therefore appealed to stakeholders and residents of Sokoto State to prevail on the government to fulfil its commitments and prevent another industrial dispute in the university.