By Segun Adewale, Bauchi
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Sa’adu Zungur University, Branch, has warned that, as a result of the persistent breaches and deliberate delays by the Management in the full implementation of the MoU between them, the Union has already initiated the internal processes required for resuming its earlier suspended strike as a final option to press home its legitimate demands.
The warning was given on Wednesday, 10 December, 2025, during a press conference held at the Yuli Campus, Bauchi of the University, jointly addressed by Comrade Awwal Hussain Nuhu, Chairperson and Comrade Saleh Rimi Bagudu, Secretary.
According to the union, it should, therefore, “be completely spared from any blame should this avoidable action eventually takes place, as the responsibility lies squarely with the University Management’s failure to honour its obligations and uphold the terms of the MoU.
“ASUU-SAZU has also written to the University Governing Council regarding meeting-up with the deadline as contained in the MoU, the correspondences were dated 21/08/2025 and 4/12/2025.
“Furthermore, ASUU-Bauchi Zone met with the University Governing Council, reminding the Council about the deadline in the MoU where it promised to do the needful within the stipulated timeframe.
“Moreover, the ASUU-Bauchi Zone, on behalf of the ASUU National President,wrote to the University Administration giving a reminder on the deadline.
“The University Administration responded to that particular letter affirming their commitment in meeting up with the deadline. All these promises remained fruitless because it has not been fulfilled and no communication was made to the Union in that regard.
“Therefore, ASUU-SAZU once again called on the relevant authorities and other critical stakeholders to do the needful in order to maintain the harmonious relationship achieved in the recent past within the University community”.
ASUU-SAZU commended the state Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, for raising the monthly allocation of the University from N80 million to N400 million, a development it said has helped in reshaping the activities of University.
“However, it is on a very painful note that the Union draws the attention of the stakeholders and the general public to the deliberate, persistent, and unjustifiable lapses of the University Management, which have undermined the gains secured through the Visitor’s goodwill,” It stated.
According to ASUU-SAZU,
“Foremost is the Management’s failure to clear the backlog of salary arrears as clearly stipulated in Item 3 of the MoU, which mandated that all outstanding financial claims be fully settled within the period of not more than 12 months, which expired on the 9th December 2025, yet the Management has failed to honour this obligation.”
It added further that, “This is despite receiving the unprecedented funding in the University’s history, the Management intentionally skipped three months of salary arrears, payment which usually comes after monthly salary payment. This action is unjustifiable, insensitive, and a direct violation of the agreement.”
ASUU-SAZU added that,”The Union also expresses deep dissatisfaction regarding the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme. Although deductions have commenced, the actuarial valuation of the pension backlog already completed and duly submitted, has not received the required government response, leaving staff uncertain about their retirement benefits. More importantly, the benefits of some of our deceased members remain unsettled till today.
“In addition to the above, it has become necessary to update the relevant stakeholders and the public on the wide communication gap between the Union and the University Management, which has been the opening item of the MoU.ASUU-SAZU has repeatedly written formal correspondences seeking clarification, updates, and engagement on issues relating to the MoU implementation, yet the Management has either ignored or refused to acknowledge most of these letters”.
According to ASUU-SAZU, “For instance, the Union’s letter dated 14/08/2025 on paltry payment of our wage arrears received no response.Another letter dated 19/11/2025, seeking clarification on the status of non payment of some of our members’ entitlements, was similarly disregarded.”
It added that, “A letter of reminder on the deadline of payment of our entitlements dated 4/12/2025 was not even acknowledged. This is to mention just a few. The refusal to respond to these communications demonstrates a pattern of disregard, non-transparency, and administrative insincerity that has contributed significantly to the current impasse.”
It further stated that, “Furthermore, the Congress critically reviewed the pattern of payments made so far regarding the 25%/35% Wage Award arrears and expressed deep dissatisfaction with the piecemeal and fractional manner in which these payments had been executed. The Congress noted that such an approach undermines the spirit of the MoU and unnecessarily prolongs the time frame within which the payments ought to have been completed.”
Arising from the development, the Congress firmly resolved that the outstanding 2019 minimum wage consequential adjustment arrears must be paid in full and in one single tranche without any further fragmentation or partial disbursement.
It stressed that, “This remains the only acceptable position to the Union, and any deviation from this clear congress resolution will be viewed as a deliberate provocation capable of worsening the already fragile industrial atmosphere within the University.”
“Consequently, after one year, the general assessment of the MoU implementation by the Congress on the 9th December 2025 stands at only thirty percent (30%) due to outstanding issues such as non-payment of the actuarial valuation of the pension backlog, incomplete settlement of allowances, non-release of the White Paper on the Visitation Panel Report, failure to re-advertise the position of Bursar and zero implementation of staff training and retention programmes,” It lamented.
ASUU-SAZU stressed that,”It must, therefore, be clearly understood by all stakeholders and the public that while the Visitor fulfilled his commitments honorably and provided unprecedented financial support to the University, the Management has repeatedly frustrated and jeopardized the entire implementation process through its lackadaisical, indifferent, and non-
transparent conduct.”
