Lecturers May Down Tools as Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa Delay ASUU Pact
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO —– Academic activities in state-owned universities across Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa states may face fresh disruption as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kano Zone, has threatened industrial action over the continued delay in implementing the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement.
The union issued the warning on Wednesday at a press conference held at Bayero University, Kano, where its Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Abdulrazaq Ibrahim, accused the three state governments of failing to domesticate and implement the agreement despite participating in the negotiations that culminated in its signing in December 2025.
According to Ibrahim, while the Federal Government has commenced the implementation of key components of the agreement in federal universities, including the release of funds to offset outstanding five-month arrears, lecturers in state-owned universities within the Kano Zone are yet to benefit from the pact.
“The Federal Government has begun implementing the 2025 FG-ASUU Agreement in federal universities, but the governments of Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa states have yet to domesticate and implement the agreement in their universities,” he said.
He warned that continued delay, selective implementation or outright disregard of the agreement could force the union to resume industrial action, with adverse consequences for students and the affected institutions.
“We urge the three state governments to immediately implement the agreement, settle all outstanding entitlements and address unresolved welfare issues affecting our members. Failure to do so may leave the union with no option but to take appropriate action,” Ibrahim stated.
The ASUU Kano Zone comprises Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Bayero University, Kano; Kaduna State University; Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Federal University Dutse; Northwest University, Kano; Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa; and the Federal University of Technology, Babura.
Ibrahim disclosed that the Federal Government had released funds covering outstanding salary-related obligations under the agreement, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), Professorial Secretariat Administrative Allowance (SAA) and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA).
He expressed disappointment that the three state governments had yet to honour the agreement, noting that several state-owned universities across the country, including Sa’adu Zungur University, Ekiti State University, Osun State University, Benue State University, Sokoto State University and Shehu Shagari University of Education, had already implemented its provisions.
ASUU also renewed its demand for the payment of the withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries of its members, insisting that lecturers remained engaged in research throughout the strike period and resumed teaching immediately after the suspension of the industrial action.
The union further called for the immediate remittance of outstanding third-party deductions and pension contributions to the National Pension Commission (PenCom), urging the relevant authorities to clear the backlog and ensure regular payments to Pension Fund Administrators.
Beyond university-related concerns, ASUU expressed worry over the country’s worsening insecurity, economic hardship and the effects of climate change, saying terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and farmer-herder conflicts continue to threaten lives, livelihoods and national development.
It urged governments at all levels to fulfil their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property while implementing policies that promote economic justice, security and sustainable development.
ASUU therefore appealed to parents, students, civil society organisations and the media to prevail on the Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa state governments to honour the 2025 agreement, warning that any further delay could undermine industrial harmony, disrupt academic activities and jeopardise students’ academic and professional aspirations.