Jigawa varsity postpones warning strike to October

A signage of the Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, Jigawa state.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa Branch, has shifted its planned warning strike to the end of October, giving the Jigawa State Government more time to resolve outstanding issues affecting the institution.

Recall that the union had earlier fixed Tuesday, September 15, 2026 (today), to commence a warning strike over unresolved issues, particularly the implementation of the 2025 ASUU-FGN Agreement and payment of outstanding arrears owed to its members.

The latest development came after renewed engagement between the union and the Jigawa State Government team, during which the government requested additional time to address the contending issues.

PUNCH Online gathered that following the Jigawa State Government’s assurances and extensive deliberations, the ASUU-SLUK Congress resolved to allow the state until the end of October 2026 to meet its commitments.

In a statement jointly signed by the ASUU-SLUK Chairman, Comrade Idris Chiromawa, and the Secretary, Comrade Salisu Yunusa, and made available to journalists in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, on Monday, the union said the shift followed a special congress meeting held on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences Lecture Theatre 1 (FSMS LT-1).

The statement said that “during the meeting, members considered the outcome of the union’s engagement with the Jigawa State Government Team.”

According to the statement, Congress agreed to give the government until the end of October 2026, as requested, to fully implement the 2025 ASUU-FGN Agreement, including the settlement of all outstanding arrears accruing from January 2026 to date.

The union, however, warned that the extension should not be interpreted as an abandonment of its demands, declaring that failure by the government to address the outstanding matters would lead to total and indefinite industrial action.

“Should the Government refuse to address the contending issues, the Congress resolved to embark on a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike effective from the 3rd of November 2026,” the statement said.

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The union said the decision followed “extensive deliberations” by Congress after members received a detailed report on the outcome of the government engagement concerning the unresolved issues affecting the university.

ASUU-SLUK also acknowledged what it described as the efforts of the Jigawa State Government team towards resolving the outstanding matters, saying Congress “acknowledged and appreciated the efforts made” by the team.

On the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Management System (IPPMS), the union said it had taken note of the government’s directive to the payroll office, in collaboration with the SLUK Bursary, to restructure the software to accommodate the peculiarities of the university.

“The Congress noted the directive given by the Government to the payroll office, alongside SLUK Bursary, to restructure the software and capture the peculiarities of the University,” the statement added.

The union also considered the issue of the removal of 0.7 per cent from the two per cent Local Government Contribution to Sule Lamido University, noting the assurance given by the state government on additional funding.

According to ASUU-SLUK, the government assured that “additional funding would be provided to the University, should additional funding become necessary,” which Congress noted in its resolution.

The union said the latest resolution provided an opportunity for the government to resolve the outstanding matters without further disruption to academic activities, but stressed that implementation of the 2025 ASUU-FGN Agreement and payment of arrears remained central to averting the planned strike.

ASUU-SLUK therefore gave the Jigawa State Government until the end of October to fulfil its commitments, warning that failure to do so would automatically pave the way for the commencement of the “total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike” from November 3, 2026.