The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi Zone, has criticised the governments of Plateau and Gombe states over their failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement, warning that the continued delay could trigger fresh industrial unrest in the affected universities.
Speaking during a press conference held on Thursday at Gombe State University, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Bauchi Zone, Timothy-Aku Namo, recalled that the agreement was reached on December 23, 2025, after extensive negotiations involving the Federal Government, state governments that own public universities and the union.
He explained that, “You may recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria signed an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities on December 23, 2025, after protracted negotiations involving the Federal Government, state governments that own public universities and our union.”
Namo expressed concern that despite the agreement, Gombe State University and Plateau State University were yet to implement its provisions, a situation he said has further worsened the welfare of lecturers and heightened frustration among academic staff.
He noted that while the Federal Government had released funds for the salary component of the agreement and inaugurated an Implementation Monitoring Committee, many state governments had failed to fulfil their own obligations.
According to him, “Many state governments are yet to commence implementation of the agreement. Some even claim that the agreement was signed between the Federal Government and ASUU alone.”
The ASUU leader further disclosed that the union’s National Executive Council carried out a forensic audit of the implementation of the agreement on June 21, 2026, which revealed that only Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi State, and Ekiti State University had complied among the state-owned universities reviewed.
He stated that, “After a forensic audit of the implementation of the agreement across our branches, the union concluded that, apart from Sa’adu Zungur University in Bauchi State and Ekiti State University, other state governments were unwilling to implement the agreement.”
Namo also lamented what he described as the declining welfare of Nigerian academics, stressing that Gombe State University and Plateau State University have become major flashpoints in the implementation crisis.
He added, “The union lamented the worsening living conditions of Nigerian academics and directed further engagement with the media to draw public attention to the looming crisis in state universities, including Gombe State University and Plateau State University, which have refused to implement the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement.”
Beyond the implementation of the agreement, he observed that both universities are also facing several unresolved issues affecting staff welfare and industrial harmony, making the need for urgent intervention even more pressing.
Appealing directly to the Visitors of the two universities, Namo urged them to act swiftly before the situation deteriorates into another industrial dispute.
In his words, “We call on the Visitors to Gombe State University and Plateau State University to direct the immediate implementation of the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement and address all other lingering issues, or risk industrial disharmony.”
He equally called on parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, the media and other stakeholders to prevail on the governments of Plateau and Gombe states to implement the agreement without further delay.
As he put it, “We call on all well-meaning Nigerians, especially parents, traditional rulers, the clergy, the media and other stakeholders, to appeal to the Gombe and Plateau state governments to make hay while the sun shines.”
The union maintained that prompt implementation of the agreement remains critical to improving the welfare of academic staff and sustaining industrial peace in state-owned universities.
