The University of Jos branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, of issuing misleading statements about the Federal Government’s compliance with agreements reached with university workers.
In a statement signed by the branch chairperson, Prof. Jurbe Joseph Molwus, the union warned that it may resume its suspended strike if the government fails to resolve the lingering issues within the next two weeks.
ASUU recalled that it had, on October 22, 2025, issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its outstanding obligations or face a total nationwide strike. However, two weeks after the warning, the union said “not much progress has been recorded.”
According to the statement, lecturers are still waiting for payment of their 3.5 months’ withheld salaries, 25/35 per cent wage award arrears, promotion arrears, and unpaid salaries of some members.
“As we mobilise for our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 8–9, we expect that outstanding entitlements such as the withheld salaries, wage award arrears, and promotion arrears would have been paid by now,” the statement read. “But all we get are press releases from the Honourable Minister of Education. What we need are credit alerts, not misleading statements.”
The union also questioned the Federal Government’s claim that it had released ₦50 billion as part of the university revitalisation fund, saying that none of the funds had reached any public university.
Reacting to the minister’s claim that ₦2.3 billion had been disbursed to clear salary and promotion arrears across federal universities, the union described the statement as “false and embarrassing.”
“The minister’s claim of clearing the backlog exists only in his imagination,” ASUU said. “₦2.3 billion is grossly inadequate and almost insulting. The minister must state clearly what fraction of the outstanding entitlements this money is meant to cover and for whom.”
ASUU reiterated its commitment to defending the rights and welfare of university workers and students, warning that continued government inaction could plunge the nation’s tertiary education system into another round of industrial crisis.
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