The University of Jos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has strongly criticized the Federal Government, accusing the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa, of making “misleading statements” about the government’s compliance with agreements reached with university workers.
The escalating dispute comes as ASUU mobilizes for a critical National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 8–9, 2025, to decide on resuming its suspended strike if outstanding issues remain unresolved.
The statement, signed by branch chairperson Prof. Jurbe Joseph Molwus, recalled the four-week ultimatum issued to the government on October 22, 2025, to meet its demands, lamenting that two weeks into the grace period, “not much progress has been recorded.”
The union stressed that members have yet to receive key entitlements, including 3.5 months’ withheld salaries, 25/35 per cent wage award arrears, promotion arrears, and unpaid salaries for some members. Expressing deep frustration with mere rhetoric, the statement was blunt: “What we need are credit alerts, not misleading statements.”
ASUU also raised alarm over the status of the N50 billion revitalization fund, asserting that the fund, which the government claimed to have released weeks ago, has not reached any university.
The union specifically dismissed the Minister’s claim of disbursing ₦2.3 billion to clear salary and promotion arrears across federal universities as “false and embarrassing,” arguing that the sum is “grossly inadequate and almost insulting,” capable of barely covering the needs of three universities.
ASUU further criticised Dr. Alausa for what it described as “inconsistent and contradictory statements” and urged him to pursue “genuine engagement beyond words” to resolve the demands, adding that “Palliatives do not cure diseases.”
The situation has heightened tension across public universities, as the upcoming NEC meeting is expected to decide whether Nigerian students will soon face another round of total strike action.
