By Israel Adamu, Jos
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi Zone, has threatened to embark on a fresh strike after accusing the Federal Government of failing to address long-standing demands. The warning came over the weekend during a press briefing in Jos, where the union said it had exhausted all previous avenues of dialogue.
The ASUU Bauchi Zone comprises six institutions: Federal University Kashere in Gombe State; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; University of Jos, Plateau State; Bauchi State University; Plateau State University, Bokkos; and Gombe State University.
Speaking at the press conference, Zonal Coordinator Dr. Timothy Namo expressed disappointment that despite earlier warnings and a two-week strike notice, the government had made “no substantial progress” in addressing critical issues affecting public universities.
Namo described the Federal Government’s recent offer as inadequate, saying the proposed wage adjustment fell far below expectations. “The paltry increase proposed by the government is a drop in the ocean,” he said, adding that the union had formally rejected the offer.
He further accused some government officials of undermining the renegotiation process by distorting key proposals and delaying discussions. Such actions, he said, cast doubt on the government’s sincerity and commitment to resolving the crisis in the education sector.
The union leader also questioned the Federal Government’s priorities, noting that education funding had not improved despite increases in national and state revenue allocations. He argued that government responses so far suggest that education is not being treated as a national priority.
“There is no sufficient evidence from the government’s response to suggest that education is a priority in Nigeria or that it truly desires to avert recurrent crises in universities,” Namo stated.
He appealed to traditional rulers, civil society organisations, student groups, and the National Assembly to intervene and press the government to honour its agreements. According to him, failure to act promptly could push the union into declaring a full-scale nationwide strike.
ASUU Bauchi Zone said it remains committed to improving Nigeria’s university system but warned that it would not hesitate to take decisive action if the government continues to delay the implementation of its demands.
