"Bauchi ASUU Gives FG Ultimatum Over Unmet Demands at ATBU"

By Khalid Idris Doya

Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria - August 26, 2025(Series News Online)

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) branch has warned that the federal government's continued failure to meet its demands may lead to a strike. The union, which remains committed to advancing the nation's educational system, expressed frustration over the government's insincerity and lack of commitment to resolving the long-standing issues.

Speaking during a peaceful protest on Tuesday, the chairperson of ASUU-ATBU, Dr. Haruna Angulu, said, "Our rights and privileges have been denied for too long. Distracting academic activities is never on our agenda, but government insincerity has pushed us to the wall."

Dr. Angulu called on the federal government to urgently conclude and sign the renegotiated 2009 Agreement and ensure its full implementation. He also demanded the payment of withheld salaries, describing them as more valuable than the Tertiary Institutions Students Support Fund (TISSF) loan scheme. "We are calling on the government to pay our withheld three and a half months' salaries. What we need is our salaries, not student loans. Forcing loans on our students only increases their hardship," he stated.

The ASUU leader further demanded the release of 12 months' arrears of the 25% and 35% pay increase, promotion arrears accumulated over 4 years, and payment of outstanding salaries withheld due to issues with the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). "Our arrears are still hanging. Many colleagues who were promoted year by year have not received their promotion arrears. We are asking the government to do the needful, we are not demanding anything beyond our entitlements," he stressed.

The union also urged the government to ensure sustainable funding for public universities and stop what it described as the victimisation of ASUU members at LASU, KSU, and FUTO. "We wish to make it clear to the general public that ASUU is not calling for strike. Rather, it is the federal government that is inviting strike by refusing to address our demands. Our students should know that we are fighting for the survival of the university system, not to disrupt their education," Dr. Angulu said.

He added that ASUU firmly rejects attempts to conscript it as a guarantor for student loans, insisting that such policies are counterproductive. "We are tired of government deceptions. We remain united and determined to continue this struggle until justice is done. Intimidation or victimisation will not solve the problem. We are intellectuals, and we will continue to use our intellectual capacity to contribute to solving the challenges of this country," he declared.