From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
Academic activities have been brought to a halt at Yobe State University (YSU) as the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday declared an indefinite strike over the state government’s failure to meet a series of long-standing demands.
Speaking at a press briefing in Damaturu, the branch chairman, Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Karage, said the union was left with no alternative after several months of dialogue, official correspondence, and appeals yielded no meaningful commitment from the government.
According to him, the demands include the full implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustments as approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission in 2024, along with the payment of arrears from 2024 to date.
ASUU also cited the non-payment of the 2019 minimum wage consequential adjustment arrears, unpaid promotion arrears spanning from 2018 to 2024, and the absence of annual salary increments and proper placement of promoted staff on appropriate steps.
The union further condemned the state government’s refusal to pay the 35% and 25% salary awards approved since January 2023 and raised concerns over the non-remittance of other statutory entitlements critical to staff welfare and motivation.
Karage explained that the union was particularly disturbed by the failure of the Ministry of Finance to recognise and implement promotion decisions ratified by the university governing council, accusing the ministry of routinely relegating staff to Step 1 and leaving them stagnated until the next promotion exercise.
“The situation has now become untenable,” he said. “Staff morale is at its lowest, and this directly affects their ability to discharge their duties effectively. We teach, we research, and we contribute to national development, but we cannot continue to do so under conditions that deny us basic rights and dignity.”
He stressed that the decision to down tools was taken to safeguard the integrity of the university system and to compel urgent government action. He noted that Yobe State University, as a public institution, should not be isolated from the standard practices and entitlements obtainable in other universities across Nigeria.
While acknowledging the disruption the strike may cause to students and their families, Karage appealed for understanding and solidarity, saying the union’s actions were aimed at securing a better future for the entire academic community.
“We deeply regret the impact this may have, but we urge students, parents, alumni, civil society groups, and the media to support our call for fairness, justice, and responsible governance in the education sector,” he said.
He added that the strike would be suspended immediately once the government meets the union’s demands.