The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nasarawa State University Keffi Branch, ASUU NSUK, has resolved to sustain its ongoing strike until the Nasarawa State Government and University Management present a clear, comprehensive, written and time-bound template for settling outstanding liabilities estimated at about ₦7.93 billion.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Keffi on Monday, the Union said the action was taken in the interest of the stability of the University, the welfare of staff, and the future of students and higher education in Nasarawa State. The Chairperson, Comrade Dr. Zubairu Abdulmumini Loko, and the Secretary, Comrade Gambo Dauda, who addressed the briefing on behalf of Congress, said the Union remains open to constructive engagement but cannot accept verbal assurances without a concrete implementation framework.
The Union listed the outstanding obligations to include five months Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance amounting to ₦1,640,000,000.00, Earned Academic Allowance arrears for 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 totaling ₦2,084,050,084.29, arrears of 25 percent and 35 percent salary increment valued at ₦2,857,253,022.25, ₦70,000 minimum wage arrears of ₦533,880,000.00, ₦35,000 wage award arrears of ₦578,935,000.00, and 2025 promotion and annual increment arrears of ₦239,108,310.54. According to the Union, these figures do not include pension obligations, counterpart contributions and other non-monetary provisions.
ASUU NSUK also expressed serious concern over the non-domestication of the Pension Law and the failure of government to pay counterpart contributions, describing it as unacceptable that retired staff who served the University and the State for decades should depend on the University’s limited internally generated revenue for pensions.
The Union noted that Management currently allocates about ₦1 billion from Internally Generated Revenue through the Council Committee on IGR to settle liabilities including pension obligations, EAA arrears, salary increment arrears, minimum wage and wage award arrears, severance allowances, death benefits and other related obligations.
It added that the University also augments monthly salary obligations with approximately ₦150 million from IGR. The Union said while it appreciates the financial difficulties confronting the University, the arrangement is not sustainable because it diverts resources meant for teaching, research, infrastructure and laboratory development.
The Union stressed that the continuation of the strike was not an arbitrary decision but the outcome of a resolution by Congress after it observed that despite explanations by Management, there was no definite written plan indicating what amount would be paid, when payment would be made, the source of funding, and how the five-month arrears and other liabilities would be cleared.
ASUU NSUK said it is calling for a joint engagement involving the Nasarawa State Government, University Management, Governing Council and the Union to produce and adopt a payment and implementation template that clearly specifies the total outstanding liabilities, the amount to be paid under each liability, the source of funding, the commencement date, specific payment timelines, the duration for clearing all arrears, and the implementation schedule for outstanding non-monetary provisions of the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement including elections for Heads of Departments and Dean of the Postgraduate School.
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The Union appealed to the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State to intervene urgently with political will and commitment to provide sustainable funding for the University. It also urged University Management and the Governing Council to intensify engagement with the State Government toward producing the required template.
To students and parents, ASUU expressed regret over the disruption of academic activities but assured that the struggle was aimed at ensuring that when academic activities resume, they would take place within a university system that is financially sustainable and capable of delivering quality teaching, research and service.
Concluding the briefing, the Union said it has no interest in keeping the University closed indefinitely or in undermining the development of Nasarawa State, but it cannot abandon the legitimate rights of its members. It reiterated that, until a credible and acceptable framework is put in place, the resolution to sustain the strike remains in force, and assured that the Union remains committed to meaningful dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
