*Over Claims Of Unimplemented FG Agreement
By Rosemary Ameh, Sokoto
Trouble is looming as Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru (FUAZ) branch, Kebbi State, has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the university’s Governing Council and management, warning that it will embark on an indefinite strike if its demands for better welfare are not met.
The decision was reached during the union’s congress held on 28 July, 2026, at the university auditorium, where members expressed dissatisfaction over non-implementation of the Federal Government-ASUU 2025 agreement.
In a statement signed by the branch Chairman, Comrade Danbuachi Ishaq Sanchi, the union said it was unfair that lecturers at FUAZ had been denied benefits already being enjoyed by their counterparts in other federal universities.
Among their grievances were alleged failure to implement the 40 per cent upward review of academic staff salaries; non-payment of five months’ accumulated Consolidated Academic and Transport Allowance (CATA) arrears, and other outstanding financial entitlements.
According to the union, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, had reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the agreement and issued the necessary directives for compliance.
ASUU claimed that the Federal Government had released funds to federal universities to settle five months of accumulated allowances, lamenting that FUAZ lecturers were excluded from the payments despite being entitled to the benefits.
The union described FUAZ as the only federal university established and made operational without a take-off grant, saying lecturers had continued to carry out their academic responsibilities with dedication despite the challenges.
“Our members have remained committed to their duties in the hope that the issues would be resolved through dialogue,” the statement said.
Following what it described as unsuccessful efforts to secure an amicable resolution, the congress resolved to issue the ultimatum.
The union warned that failure by the Governing Council and university management to fully implement the Federal Government-ASUU agreement and pay all outstanding entitlements before the expiration of the ultimatum, would leave lecturers with no option than commence industrial action.
The congress was attended by members of the ASUU National Visiting Team, including Comrade Lawal Argungu, Comrade Murtala Abdullahi, Comrade Aliyu Ahmed, and the ASUU Sokoto Zone Coordinator, Professor Abubakar Sabo.
