The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Jos branch, has accused the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa, of issuing “misleading statements” regarding the federal government’s fulfilment of agreements with university workers, warning that the union may resume its suspended strike if the issues remain unresolved within the next two weeks.

In a statement signed by the branch chairperson, Prof. Jurbe Joseph Molwus, ASUU recalled that it had on October 22, 2025, issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its outstanding demands or risk a total strike.

According to the union, two weeks after the ultimatum, “not much progress has been recorded,” as university staff are yet to receive their withheld salaries, wage award arrears, and other entitlements.

“As we mobilise for our National Executive Council ,NEC meeting scheduled for November 8–9, we expect that outstanding entitlements such as the 3.5 months withheld salaries, 25/35 per cent wage award arrears, promotion arrears, and unpaid salaries of some members would have been paid by now.

“ But all we get are press releases from the Honourable Minister of Education. What we need are credit alerts, not misleading statements,” the statement read.

The union also expressed concern that the N50 billion revitalisation fund, which the government claimed to have released weeks ago, has not reached any university.

Reacting to the minister’s claim that the government had disbursed ?2.3 billion to clear salary and promotion arrears across federal universities, ASUU dismissed the statement as “false and embarrassing,” saying the amount could barely cover the needs of three universities.

“The Minister’s claim of clearing the backlog exists only in his imagination. N2.3 billion is grossly inadequate and almost insulting. The Minister must state clearly what fraction of the outstanding entitlements this money is meant to cover and for whom,” the union said.

ASUU further criticised Dr. Alausa for what it described as “inconsistent and contradictory statements” on the union’s demands, urging him to engage sincerely with stakeholders rather than issuing “empty rhetoric.”

“It is high time the Honourable Minister of Education realised that only genuine engagement beyond words can settle ASUU’s demands. Palliatives do not cure diseases; perhaps he should learn from his counterpart in the Ministry of Health,” the statement added.

The union also questioned the effectiveness of the Minister of State for Education, noting that, being from the university system herself, she should have shown better understanding and commitment to addressing the issues.

ASUU called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate genuine commitment to resolving the lingering crisis in the tertiary education sector by appointing a more competent minister who understands the system’s challenges.

“If President Tinubu truly desires to make history by ending the long-standing dispute with university unions, he needs to appoint someone who understands the issues bedevilling higher education,” ASUU said.

The union urged students, parents, and the general public to prevail on the government to act swiftly, warning that the four-week ultimatum expires on November 21, 2025.

“The strike was only suspended as a mark of respect and goodwill in collective bargaining. We expect the government to reciprocate by addressing our demands satisfactorily without further delay,” Prof. Molwus stated. (VANGUARD)