The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Yobe State University branch, says the continued refusal by the Yobe government to implement agreements reached with the union will trigger industrial unrest.

The branch chairperson, Muhammad Adamu, announced the union’s position at a news conference on Thursday in Damaturu.

Mr Adamu said the union’s congress meetings held on April 23, May 13 and June 17 reviewed what it described as the “persistent failure of the state government to honour agreements entered into with the union”.

He recalled that ASUU embarked on an industrial action in July 2025 over unresolved welfare and conditions-of-service issues affecting its members.

According to him, the strike was suspended after the union and the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 29, 2025.

He, however, alleged that several key provisions of the agreement remained unimplemented.

Mr Adamu said the outstanding issues include non-payment of five years’ promotion arrears for academic staff, covering the period from 2018 to 2024.

He said the government acknowledged the claim and committed itself to settling the arrears, but had yet to fulfil the promise.

“The prolonged delay in settling the arrears has continued to generate anxiety and frustration among academic staff.

 “Many members have patiently awaited the implementation of the government’s commitment,” he said.

The chairperson also cited the non-approval and implementation of the federal government-ASUU 2025 salary agreement in the university.

He said the agreement included the consolidated academic tools allowance (CATA), professorial allowances, and the mainstreaming of 11 per cent of annual salary as the earned academic allowance (EAA).

Mr Adamu said the demand was presented to the government during a meeting chaired by the acting secretary to the state government, Dr Mohammed Goje, on May 15, but no response had been received.

He further alleged that the government had yet to pay arrears arising from the 35 per cent and 25 per cent salary award approved for professors and non-professors, respectively, as well as the N70,000 wage award.

According to him, the salary award was implemented in the university in July 2025, about two years after it was approved nationally.

The union also expressed concern over the non-payment of five years’ arrears arising from the implementation of the 2019 national minimum wage consequential adjustment.

Mr Adamu said the revised consolidated university academic staff salary structure II (CONUASS II) was implemented in February 2024 after years of delay.

He added that the arrears had been computed and submitted to the government for payment, but remained outstanding.

The chairperson said the welfare challenges had contributed to the loss of senior academics to other institutions.

He described the development as a threat to the university’s academic stability, research capacity and long-term growth.

According to him, many experienced lecturers, readers and professors are leaving because salaries and allowances in the institution are no longer competitive.

“If urgent measures are not taken to improve remuneration and welfare, the university may witness a more severe loss of its most productive scholars,” he said.

Mr Adamu said the congress resolved that the government’s failure to take satisfactory action within a short period could compel the union to activate lawful procedures to protect the welfare of its members.

He said the union remained committed to constructive engagement and peaceful resolution of disputes.

He urged the state government to act swiftly in the interest of industrial harmony, academic stability and the continued development of Yobe State University.

(NAN)