The University of Jos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, of making “misleading statements” about the Federal Government’s compliance with agreements reached with university lecturers.
According to a statement issued by the branch chairperson, Prof. Jurbe Joseph Molwus, the union warned that it could fully resume its suspended strike if the government fails to address the unresolved issues within the next two weeks.
ASUU reminded the public that on October 22, 2025, it gave the Federal Government a four-week deadline to settle all pending demands or face a total shutdown of academic activities again.
However, the Union says that halfway into the ultimatum, there has been very little progress. Lecturers are yet to receive their withheld salaries, wage award arrears, promotion arrears, and other outstanding payments.
Prof. Molwus noted that the union’s NEC meeting is scheduled for November 8–9, and by now, they expected the payment of the “3.5 months withheld salaries, 25/35 per cent wage award arrears, promotion arrears, and unpaid salaries of some members.” Instead, he said all they are seeing are media statements from the Minister, adding that “what we need are credit alerts, not misleading statements.”
The branch also faulted the government’s claim that it released a N50 billion Revitalisation Fund, insisting that no university has received any portion of the money.
Reacting to the Minister’s statement that N2.3 billion had been disbursed to clear salary and promotion arrears in federal universities, ASUU described the claim as “false and embarrassing,” arguing the amount is too little to meet the needs of even three institutions.
The union added that “the minister’s claim of clearing the backlog exists only in his imagination. N2.3 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.”