By Christiana Gokyon, Jos
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Plateau State University branch, has called on the Plateau State Government to immediately implement the new salary scheme for lecturers and avoid unnecessary bureaucratic delays.
The union said it had submitted the Federal Government/ASUU agreement containing the new salary template to the university management in February 2026, but lecturers are still being paid under the old salary structure despite the prevailing economic hardship.
This was contained in a statement signed by the branch Chairperson and Secretary, Dr. Vincent Choji and Lomka Iliya Kopdiya, respectively, and made available to journalists in Jos.
According to the statement, while the state government and university management have continued to celebrate the institution’s expansion through increased student enrolment and the establishment of new faculties and departments, the growing workload on lecturers has been ignored.
The union noted that its members are working harder than ever to teach and shape the character of students, yet their welfare and working conditions have not received adequate attention.
ASUU further lamented that the union had lost over four lecturers in recent months to stress and heart-related complications.
The union also raised concerns over poor campus security, high transportation costs, and the lack of staff accommodation, saying the issues remain unresolved.
According to ASUU, several other outstanding matters contained in the 2024 agreement signed between the union and the Plateau State Government have equally been neglected.
The union therefore urged the state government to implement the new salary scheme, pay all arrears from January 1, 2026, release funds for pension and gratuity payments, and address all pending issues to avert what it described as a looming “total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action.”