ASUU Moves Closer to Indefinite Strike at PLASU Over Unimplemented 2025 Pact
By Comfort Pius, Jos
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Plateau State University (PLASU) Branch, has commenced the process that could culminate in an indefinite strike over the Plateau State Government’s failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement, the salary framework adopted for Nigeria’s public universities.
The union announced the development on Thursday during a press conference in Jos, saying its congress had resolved to initiate industrial action after months of unsuccessful engagements with the university management and the state government over the implementation of the agreement.
Speaking on behalf of the ASUU Bauchi Zone, Prof. Lawan Abubakar said the union’s application for strike action was already being processed by the union’s zonal and national organs in line with ASUU’s procedures.
He explained that the union took the decision following a resolution reached at its congress meeting held on May 13, 2026, after repeated efforts to secure implementation of the salary agreement failed to yield results.
Abubakar said the branch submitted the revised salary template contained in the 2025 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement to the university management in February 2026, expecting its prompt implementation
According to him, the university management, in a response dated May 18, informed the union that the Plateau State Government was still studying the financial and administrative implications of the agreement before taking a final decision on its implementation.
Expressing disappointment over the delay, Abubakar said six months after the submission of the salary template, the agreement had yet to be implemented despite being negotiated by representatives of both the Federal and state governments and approved for adoption across Nigeria’s public university system.
“We are concerned that after six months, the agreement is yet to be implemented despite having been negotiated and approved for implementation across Nigeria’s public university system,” he said.
He further observed that while several neighbouring state-owned universities had already implemented the agreement, lecturers at Plateau State University remained on the old salary structure amid rising inflation and worsening economic conditions.
Abubakar added that the university had continued to expand through increased student enrolment and the establishment of new faculties and departments, placing greater teaching, research, community service and mentoring responsibilities on academic staff without corresponding improvements in their remuneration and welfare.
While acknowledging what he described as the Visitor’s willingness to implement the agreement, he insisted that only the immediate release of funds for the new salary structure and payment of all outstanding arrears, effective January 1, 2026, would resolve the dispute.
“While we acknowledge the Visitor’s expressed willingness to implement the agreement, only the immediate release of funds for the payment of the new salary structure and all outstanding arrears, effective January 1, 2026, will resolve this matter,” he stated.
He appealed to the Plateau State Government to act swiftly to avert industrial unrest capable of disrupting academic activities at the institution.
The union also called on members of the public and other stakeholders within and outside Plateau State to engage the government in resolving the matter before it degenerates into a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike.
“We also appeal to members of the public and all stakeholders within and outside Plateau State to engage the government with a view to resolving these issues before they culminate in a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike,” Abubakar added.
