By Umar Faruk
Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria, April 24, 2026
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero branch, has threatened to embark on a total and indefinite strike if the Kebbi State Government fails to settle welfare entitlements owed its members.
The union’s position was made public at a press conference held on April 22, 2026, at the ASUU-AFUSTA branch secretariat in Aliero. The statement issued at the briefing was jointly signed by the Branch Chairperson, Dr. Musa Isah Fakai, and the Branch Secretary, Dr. Gado Abubakar A.
Addressing journalists at the conference, ASUU-AFUSTA said it had become necessary to alert the public and education stakeholders to labour issues that have disrupted academic activities at the institution for over ten years.
“Once more, we are faced with the task of addressing the public and stakeholders of education in Kebbi State to appeal to the relevant authorities to take appropriate steps in resolving the lingering labour crisis affecting Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero,” the union said.
ASUU-AFUSTA cited Governor Nasir Idris, whom it referred to as “Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris (Kauran Gwandu),” quoting him as saying, “most achievements are not made through confrontation.”
The union recalled the legacy of the university’s namesake, describing Abdullahi Fodio as “a scholar and leader who wiped away the tears of the underprivileged and orphans and gave strength to the weak.”
“He strived so hard to educate his people. He never condoned subordinates playing with or standing between him and the rights of his subjects,” the union stated.
ASUU-AFUSTA said an earlier appeal dated April 15, 2026, was not acknowledged by the University Management, the Governing Council, or the Ministry for Higher Education.
“At Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero, many issues that undermine a conducive atmosphere for teaching have remained unresolved for over a decade,” the union said.
The union listed nine demands, beginning with the non-implementation of the new remuneration package for academic staff in Nigerian universities.
It noted that the Federal Government signed an agreement with ASUU which took effect on January 1, 2026, resolving all outstanding issues from the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement.
“Despite the Union’s submission of the agreement to the Management of AFUSTA, the Governing Council, and the State Ministry for Higher Education on January 15, 2026, the agreement has remained unattended to three months later,” the union said.
“To our knowledge, the issue of implementation has not even reached the table of the Visitor, His Excellency, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris (Kauran Gwandu), which reflects a lack of will to implement the agreement even in April 2026,” it added.
The union urged the government to fully implement the agreement from January 1, 2026, covering “all promotions, steps, other allowances and relevant provisions contained therein.”
On Earned Academic Allowances, ASUU-AFUSTA said it submitted computations for 308 academic staff for 2014 to 2021, and for 323 staff for 2022 to 2024, in early 2025.
“Despite all possible efforts made by the Union, the allowances have not been paid by the Kebbi State Government,” the union stated.
The union cited unpaid promotion arrears from 2016 to 2025, with outstanding periods ranging from six months to 31 months annually. It added that the 2025 promotion exercise, which commenced in February 2026, had already accrued seven months of arrears.
ASUU-AFUSTA also noted the non-implementation of annual salary increments from 2020 to 2026, resulting in arrears of up to 42 months.
Other unresolved payments include six months of N35,000 wage award arrears from October 2023 to March 2024, and 16 months of arrears for the 35% and 25% salary increment covering September 2023 to December 2024.
The union said three months of arrears from the 2024 minimum wage, implemented in AFUSTA in January 2025, remain unpaid, along with 62 months of arrears from the 2019 salary consequential adjustment.
It further lamented the non-completion of the 2024 promotion exercise, stating that assessments for staff due for promotion to Reader and Professor effective October 1, 2024, had yet to be forwarded for external assessment.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero has shown comradeship, exercised understanding, and demonstrated restraint with the Comrade Executive Governor and Visitor to this ivory tower of academic excellence,” the union said.
“We believe Abdullahi Fodio, who stands for humanity and humanitarian justice, would never be happy as a leader to see his people subjected to this avoidable treatment,” it added.
The union dismissed the notion that workers’ demands for justice amount to threats.
“The generally erroneous belief is that when a workforce rises to demand justice, it is a threat. This is despite the legality of the instruments the workers invoke,” it stated.
ASUU-AFUSTA said it had resolved to deploy “all available legal instruments needed to secure the settlement of all outstanding labour issues affecting our members.”
The union disclosed that its branch congress resolved to seek amicable redress but warned of further action if its appeals fail.
“Sequel to the lack of serious attention by the relevant authorities to resolve the above lingering welfare issues, the Branch Congress resolved to notify the public and other stakeholders once again that we seek amicable redress on all the lingering welfare issues,” the union said.
“In the event these pleas do not yield positive results, all avenues available for the actualization of these demands, including the request for industrial action (Total, Comprehensive and Indefinite Strike action) from the ASUU National body at the upcoming National Executive Council meeting scheduled for May 9-10, 2026, will be activated,” it warned.
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Strike Action