Ibrahim Muhammad
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Sule Lamido University Kafin Hausa Branch (ASUU-SLUK), has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Jigawa State Government to address outstanding demands affecting the welfare of academic staff and the administration of the institution.
This was contained in a statement signed by the ASUU-SLUK chairperson Comrade Idris Muhammad Chiromawa issued to newsmen on Wednesday, warning that failure to act could lead to a strike.
The ultimatum, which took effect on September 1, 2026, requires the state government to take concrete steps towards resolving the issues before the expiration of the two-week period.
The union said it had exercised considerable patience and pursued dialogue with the government and other relevant stakeholders, but several appeals, letters and requests for meetings had failed to produce the desired results.
According to ASUU-SLUK, its immediate concern is the government’s continued delay in implementing the approved new salary structure applicable to its members.
The union said its members had waited for approximately seven months for the implementation of the new salary package, despite continuing to discharge their responsibilities under the existing salary structure.
ASUU-SLUK also demanded the immediate implementation of the 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement and payment of accrued salary arrears from January 2026 to date.
Other demands include the exemption of Sule Lamido University from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Management System (IPPMS), which the union said had created difficulties for university staff.
The union also demanded the remittance of outstanding third-party deductions, payment of responsibility allowances, annual increments owed to members since 2023, and promotion arrears due to eligible staff since 2024.
It further called for the release of the approved 2024/2025 Earned Academic Allowance (EAA).
The union also urged the state government to reconsider its decision concerning the removal of 0.7 per cent from the statutory two per cent Local Government Contribution to the university and develop sustainable funding arrangements for the other sister university.
ASUU-SLUK said it had written more than three letters to Governor Umar Namadi, who is also the Visitor to the university, seeking direct engagement on the issues.
It added that it had also approached the Commissioner for Higher Education, the Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly and other respected individuals in the state to facilitate dialogue.
The union, however, said despite these efforts, the outstanding issues remained unresolved.
Comrade Chiromawa, said the union’s position was not aimed at confrontation, stressing that dialogue remained its preferred option.
He warned that should the government fail to address the demands at the expiration of the two-week ultimatum, the union would have no other option than to embark on industrial action.
Responding State commissioner for Higher Education Prof. Isa Yusuf Chamo said, state Government is doing all its best to ensure the welfare of its workers.
He noted that all the demand of the Union has been approved and are on process of implementation.
“What happened is just a communication gap, because all their needs and demands have been taken care of”
“Right now we are going to have a meeting with the University and I am sure it will be over” the commissioner said.
