UNIJOS ASUU declares indefinite strike over delayed March salary, unpaid allowances
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) has declared an indefinite strike over the delayed payment of lecturers’ March 2026 salaries and outstanding Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).
After nearly 16 years of stalled negotiations, the federal government signed a renegotiated agreement with ASUU on January 14, 2026, aimed at addressing the persistent industrial actions in Nigeria’s public universities.
The agreement followed extensive discussions between a government committee and ASUU leadership, concluded in December 2025.
Despite this breakthrough, delays in salary payments across federal universities have been reported since February.
In March, ASUU members at the University of Lagos embarked on an indefinite strike over incomplete salary payments but later suspended the action after engaging with the university management.
ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, attributed the delays to challenges in implementing the new salary structure, particularly the late passage of the 2026 budget. He noted that while the government has shown willingness to fully implement the agreement, execution remains stalled pending budget approval.
He also warned that failure to pay lecturers in line with the agreement could trigger further industrial action nationwide.
As of the time of this report, ASUU had not issued an official update on whether March salaries had been paid across universities or whether payments complied with the new agreement.
‘We will abstain from lectures, exams’
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Jurbe Molwus, chairman of ASUU-UNIJOS, announced that the strike would commence on Wednesday, with lecturers withdrawing all academic services.
This includes lectures, examinations, and participation in statutory meetings until all outstanding salaries are paid.
Molwus stated that the decision followed due process and aligns with resolutions of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) and congress.
He attributed the delay to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, noting that the university’s bursary department had already completed its part of the payment process.
“After following due process, we request all members to abstain from lectures, exams, and statutory meetings as our March 2026 salary is yet to be paid despite our patience,” the statement read.
He urged full compliance among members and warned that a strike monitoring team would be deployed to ensure adherence.
Molwus concluded by calling for solidarity among union members as they press for the resolution of all outstanding issues.