The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Yobe State University (YSU) branch, has accused the Yobe State Government of failing to honour key agreements reached with the union and warned that it may be forced to activate lawful industrial action if the situation persists.

The union made its position known on Thursday during a press briefing at the Yobe State University campus in Damaturu, where it expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as the government’s persistent failure to implement provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the union in July 2025.

Addressing journalists, Chairperson of ASUU-YSU, Comrade Muhammad Adamu, said the union’s congress meetings held on April 23, May 13 and June 17, 2026, extensively deliberated on unresolved welfare issues affecting academic staff in the institution.

He recalled that the union embarked on an industrial action in July 2025 over lingering welfare concerns before reaching a truce with the state government and signing an MoU on July 29, 2025.

According to him, although some aspects of the agreement have been implemented, several critical provisions remain outstanding.

Among the unresolved issues, he listed the non-payment of promotion arrears accumulated between 2018 and 2024, despite government assurances to settle them.

“Following extensive engagements and negotiations, the Yobe State Government acknowledged the legitimacy of our claim and committed itself to offsetting the accumulated promotion arrears arising from delayed implementation of staff promotions spanning five years. Unfortunately, this commitment remains largely unfulfilled,” he said.

The union further lamented the non-implementation of the new salary package approved under the 2025 agreement between ASUU and the Federal Government, which includes the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), professorial allowances, and the mainstreaming of an 11 per cent annual salary component as Earned Academic Allowance.

Adamu said the demand was formally presented to the state government during a meeting convened by the Acting Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mohammed Goje, on May 15, 2026, but no response had been received.

ASUU also accused the state government of failing to pay arrears arising from the 35 per cent and 25 per cent salary award approved for professors and non-professorial academic staff, as well as the N70,000 wage award implemented in tertiary institutions across the country.

The union noted that although the salary award was eventually implemented at Yobe State University in July 2025, two years after its approval, the accumulated arrears remain unpaid.

Similarly, the union decried the non-payment of five years’ arrears of the 2019 minimum wage consequential adjustment, which it said was only implemented in February 2024 after years of delay.

ASUU warned that the prolonged neglect of staff welfare was contributing to a growing exodus of experienced academics from the institution.

The union said many senior lecturers, readers and professors trained through government-sponsored staff development programmes were leaving for other universities and organisations offering better remuneration and welfare packages.

“The salaries and allowances of academic staff in Yobe State University have become increasingly uncompetitive when compared with those of their counterparts in many public universities. Consequently, many accomplished academics are seeking alternative opportunities where their expertise and contributions are better recognised and rewarded,” Adamu stated.

He warned that continued loss of senior academics could undermine the university’s teaching, research, postgraduate training and accreditation activities, as well as its ability to compete nationally and internationally.

The union urged the state government and other stakeholders to take urgent steps to address the issues in order to preserve industrial harmony and safeguard the future of the university.

ASUU resolved that if government fails to take satisfactory action within a short period, it may be compelled to activate all lawful procedures necessary to protect the welfare of its members and the integrity of the institution.

The union, however, reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue, peaceful dispute resolution and the development of Yobe State University.

“We urge government to act expeditiously in the interest of industrial peace, stability of the academic calendar and the survival of Yobe State University,” the ASUU chairperson said. (Daily Trust)