ASUU Laments Non-Implementation Of 2025 Agreement In Gombe, Plateau Varsities

By Najeeb Sani

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), Bauchi Zone, has warned of an impending crisis in state-owned universities over the failure of most state governments to implement the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement.

Zonal Coordinator of the union, Comrade Timothy Aku Namo, gave the warning on Thursday during a press conference at Gombe State University, Gombe.

Comrade Namo said ASUU signed the agreement with the Federal Government on December 23, 2025, after months of negotiation.

The Federal Government, he noted, unveiled the agreement on January 14, 2026, with a promise for immediate implementation.

However, he said both Federal and State Governments had not shown “serious commitment” by May 2026, forcing ASUU’s National Executive Council to alert the public to the looming crisis.

That pressure, he added, led the Federal Government to release funds for the salary component and set up an Implementation Monitoring Committee.

Despite that, Comrade Namo lamented that most state governments are yet to act.

“Some even claim that the agreement was signed between the Federal Government and ASUU alone,” he said.

Following an emergency NEC meeting on June 21, 2026, and a forensic audit of compliance, ASUU said only Sa’adu Zungur University in Bauchi State and Ekiti State University had begun implementation.

“Other state universities, including Gombe State University and Plateau State University in Bauchi Zone, have refused to implement the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement,” he revealed.

Beyond the agreement, the union said Gombe State University (GSU) and Plateau State University (PLASU) also have other unresolved issues peculiar to their institutions.

“The Bauchi Zone, which comprises Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Federal University, Kashere; Gombe, Federal University of Education, Pankshin, Plateau, Gombe State University, Plateau State University, Bokkos; Sa’adu Zungur University, Gadau; and University of Jos, decried the “worsening living conditions of Nigerian academics”, he stated.

The union called on the governors of Gombe and Plateau States to direct immediate implementation of the agreement and address all lingering issues “or risk industrial disharmony.”

He also appealed to parents, traditional rulers, the clergy, the press and other stakeholders to intervene.

“We call on well-meaning Nigerians to appeal to Gombe and Plateau state governments to make hay while the sun shines,” he said.