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From Mohammed Abubakar Dutse
The Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU-SLUK) in Jigawa State, has vowed not to back down its two-week warning strike beginning from September 15 unless the state government meets their demands
The branch chairman of the union, Idris Chiromawa, who confirmed the branch stance in a statement obtained by Daily Sun faulted the claim by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Yusuf Chamo that the state government only received the copy of the 2025 FGN/ASUU on the implementation of only two weeks ago
The development is coming just as the state government hurriedly convened a stakeholders’ meeting to avert the strike. The meeting which took place last Wednesday was presided over by Chamo with the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Accountant General, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and institution’s vice chancellor among others in attendance
However, Chiromawa, in a chat with Daily Sun at the weekend said nothing concrete was achieved from the meeting, noting that the union would not back down on its plan to embark on the two-week warning strike if reasonable steps were not taken to address the teachers’ demands at the expiration of the deadline.
Asked if the strike would still go ahead in the light of the renewed efforts by the state government, he responded in the positive noting that, already the branch had formally notified the National Secretariat of the union to commerce action if no progress is made before the ultimatum expires.
He argued that contrary to the claims of the commissioner, the 2025 ASUU-FGN agreement was not received two weeks ago: The implementation of the 2025 ASUU-FGN agreement is not a new issue and was not brought to the attention of the Jigawa State Government only recently.
Following receipt of the agreement, the union forwarded it to the university management for the university council’s approval. At its meeting of 21st May 2026, the council considered and approved its full implementation.
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The council’s resolutions were subsequently conveyed to the Visitor to the university, His Excellency, Malam Umar Namadi, through the Commissioner, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, and the memorandum reached the Office of the visitor in June 2026.
“The matter has therefore been before the relevant authorities for several months, rather than approximately two weeks as claimed.”
He added that ASUU-SLUK had consistently sought dialogue, noting that the union has written several letters requesting direct engagement with the visitor and has also sought the intervention of the commissioner, the Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly and other respected individuals in the state.
“These efforts were made with the hope of fast-tracking the process. The union’s decision to issue an ultimatum was therefore not sudden or lack of communication. It followed seven months of correspondence, patience and attempts to secure meaningful engagement on the outstanding issues.
“On the 0.7% deduction from the 2% Local Government contribution to the university: ASUU-SLUK wishes to make it clear that its concern about the 0.7% deduction is not opposition to the development or funding of the new university.
“The union supports the development of all public tertiary institutions across the state. Our concern is simply that funding arrangements should be sustainable and should not weaken the ability of any existing institution to fulfill its responsibilities.
“Finally, the union appreciates the prompt intervention attempt by the commissioner and look forward to timely resolution of the issues in contention.”
