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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Jos branch, has issued a fierce rejoinder to the Federal Government, accusing the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Maruf Alausa, of making “misleading statements” regarding the fulfillment of agreements with university workers. The escalating dispute comes as ASUU mobilises for a critical National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 8–9, 2025, to decide on resuming its suspended strike if outstanding issues remain unresolved. The statement, signed by branch chairperson Prof. Jurbe Joseph Molwus, recalled the four-week ultimatum issued to the government on October 22, 2025, to meet its demands, lamenting that two weeks into the grace period, “not much progress has been recorded.” The union stressed that members have yet to receive key entitlements, including 3.5 months’ withheld salaries, 25/35 per cent wage award arrears, promotion arrears, and unpaid salaries for some members. Expressing deep frustration with mere rhetoric, the statement was blunt: “What we need are credit alerts, not misleading statements.” ALSO READ: We’ll do our best to pacify ASUU — Education Minister ASUU also raised alarm over the status of the N50 billion revitalisation fund, asserting that the fund, which the government claimed to have released weeks ago, has not reached any university. The union specifically dismissed the Minister’s claim of disbursing ₦2.3 billion to clear salary and promotion arrears across federal universities as “false and embarrassing,” arguing that the sum is “grossly inadequate and almost insulting,” capable of barely covering the needs of three universities. ASUU further criticised Dr. Alausa for what it described as “inconsistent and contradictory statements” and urged him to pursue “genuine engagement beyond words” to resolve the demands, adding that “Palliatives do not cure diseases.” The development places the public university system on edge, with the looming NEC meeting expected to determine whether Nigerian students will face a fresh, total industrial action. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
