Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru (FUAZ) branch in Kebbi State, has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the institution's Governing Council and management, demanding the immediate implementation of the 2025 agreement reached between the Federal Government and ASUU. The union has warned that failure to meet its demands within the ultimatum, which commenced on July 29, 2026, would leave it with no option but to embark on industrial action. The decision was reached during a special congress of the union held on July 28, 2026, at the university auditorium, attended by members of the ASUU National Visitation Team and the ASUU Sokoto Zone Coordinator.
In a statement signed by the branch chairman, Comrade Danbauchi Ishaq Sanchi, the congress expressed concern over the continued non-implementation of the Federal Government-ASUU 2025 Agreement at FUAZ, despite clear directives from the Federal Government. The union recalled that the Federal Government and ASUU signed the renegotiated agreement in December 2025 after a 16-year negotiation process. The agreement provides for a 40 per cent upward review of academic staff emoluments, enhanced research funding, and improved severance entitlements.
The union also noted that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, had reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to implementing the agreement and issued directives for compliance. Furthermore, the Federal Government subsequently released funds to federal universities for the payment of five months' accumulated Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) arrears. However, the union alleged that FUAZ has not benefited from the implementation of these directives, leaving its academic staff without the approved financial benefits.
The union expressed dismay that FUAZ remains the only federal university established and made operational without a take-off grant. Despite this challenge, lecturers have continued to carry out their academic responsibilities with dedication while awaiting government intervention. Among its demands, ASUU called for the immediate implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement at the university and the payment of five months' accumulated CATA arrears alongside all other outstanding financial entitlements owed to its members.
Speaking after the congress, the branch chairman urged the university's Governing Council, management, the Federal Government, and other stakeholders to urgently resolve the issues to avert an industrial dispute and safeguard teaching, research, and learning at the Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru. The ultimatum, effective from July 29, 2026, gives the university management and Governing Council 21 days to address the union's demands or face a strike.
The congress, which arrived at this resolution, had in attendance ASUU national visiting team members, including Comrade Lawal Argungu, Murtala Abdullahi, Aliyu Ahmed, and the ASUU Sokoto Zone Coordinator, Professor Abubakar Sabo. The looming strike threat comes as FUAZ continues to grapple with the unique challenge of being the only federal university in Nigeria established and made operational without a take-off grant. The situation has raised concerns about the potential disruption of academic activities at the institution if the ultimatum expires without resolution.
The development at FUAZ reflects a broader pattern of discontent within ASUU over the implementation of the 2025 agreement. In July 2026, ASUU issued similar strike threats in Jigawa, Kaduna, and Kano states over the non-implementation of the agreement. The union had earlier expressed hope that it would not be forced to "issue a strike threat" for the full implementation of the 2025 ASUU-FGN renegotiated agreement. However, the failure to fully implement critical aspects of the pact across various institutions has triggered anxiety and warnings of another round of industrial action.
The 2025 agreement, which took effect from January 1, 2026, introduced a 40 per cent pay rise, enhanced research funding, and improved severance entitlements for academic staff. The Federal Government had described the agreement as a significant boost to income levels that have been static since 2009. However, the non-implementation at FUAZ and other institutions has highlighted the persistent gap between government commitments and their actual execution on the ground.
As the 21-day ultimatum progresses, the Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru, and its academic staff remain in a state of uncertainty. The union has made it clear that it will not hesitate to embark on industrial action if its demands are not met. The coming weeks will determine whether the university's Governing Council and management can address the union's grievances and avert a strike that could disrupt academic activities and further strain Nigeria's already embattled higher education sector.
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