Published by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Academic activities have resumed at the University of Jos following the suspension of a brief strike by lecturers under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIJOS branch, after the payment of March 2026 salaries by the Federal Government.
The suspension was confirmed on Friday in a statement issued by the ASUU branch chairman, Professor Jurbe Molwus, who explained that members returned to work after confirming that salary payments had been made to most lecturers across faculties. The development brings an end to a work stoppage that began on April 8, 2026, triggered by delays in salary payments and unresolved issues surrounding allowances.
Lecturers at the institution had withdrawn their services earlier in the week after concerns emerged over the non-payment of March salaries and the continued exclusion of Earned Academic Allowances from the remuneration package. The industrial action disrupted lectures, academic meetings, and other institutional activities, raising concerns among students and administrators.
According to the union, the decision to suspend the strike followed confirmation that the university administration had received clearance from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, which enabled the release of funds for salary payments. The ASUU leadership noted that the majority of members had received salary alerts, a development that influenced the decision to resume academic activities.
However, the union expressed dissatisfaction that the Earned Academic Allowances component had not been included in the March 2026 payments. It described the omission as a continuing point of contention between the union and the Federal Government, despite ongoing discussions around the implementation of agreements reached under the FGN-ASUU 2025 framework.
ASUU stressed that while lectures, examinations, and statutory academic duties would resume immediately, the union would continue to press for the inclusion and full implementation of the allowances. It also urged the Federal Government to release the necessary funds required to honour all aspects of the agreement, warning that failure to do so could trigger another round of industrial action.
The branch leadership further cautioned that the resolution of the current salary issue should not be seen as a final settlement of outstanding matters between both parties. It emphasized that sustained industrial harmony would depend on the government’s commitment to addressing pending financial obligations to university lecturers.
The union also expressed concern about the recurring nature of salary delays and partial payments, noting that such issues continue to disrupt academic calendars and create instability in the university system. It urged authorities to take proactive measures to prevent a recurrence of similar disputes in April and subsequent months.
The brief strike at the University of Jos adds to a long history of industrial tensions between university-based academic unions and the Federal Government over funding, welfare, and implementation of agreements. Issues such as allowances, infrastructure funding, and salary structures have remained central to negotiations over the years.
Students at the institution are expected to return fully to academic activities following the suspension, although there may be adjustments to academic schedules to recover lost time. University management is also expected to coordinate with faculty heads to ensure a smooth resumption of lectures and examinations.
Education stakeholders have repeatedly warned that frequent disruptions in academic calendars can have long-term effects on learning outcomes and institutional stability. While the latest suspension has restored normalcy for now, concerns remain over the possibility of renewed industrial action if outstanding issues are not resolved.
For now, ASUU has indicated a willingness to continue engagement with relevant government agencies, while maintaining pressure for full compliance with existing agreements. The union’s warning suggests that the resolution remains temporary, pending further action on unresolved financial obligations.
As academic activities resume at the University of Jos, attention is expected to shift to broader negotiations between ASUU and the Federal Government, particularly regarding long-standing concerns over funding and welfare in Nigeria’s public university system.
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