The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Sokoto Zone, has warned that Nigeria’s public universities may be heading towards another industrial crisis due to the Federal Government’s failure to fully implement agreements reached with the union.

The union issued the warning on Thursday during a press conference in Sokoto, accusing both federal and state governments of neglecting key welfare and funding issues affecting lecturers and public universities.

Addressing journalists, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Abubakar Sabo, said the continued delay in implementing the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement was creating tension across campuses and threatening industrial harmony.

According to him, despite the public signing and presentation of the agreement in January 2026, the government has yet to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee, resulting in delays, inconsistencies, and selective implementation of the agreement by university authorities.

“The continued delay in addressing these issues is capable of provoking avoidable industrial unrest in the university system,” Sabo said.

He noted that several universities across the country were yet to implement the agreed 40 per cent salary increment linked to Consolidated Academic Tool Allowances, Earned Academic Allowances, and Professorial Allowances.

“We call on both Federal and State Governments to faithfully implement every component of the Agreement in the interest of industrial harmony and stability in Nigerian universities,” he added.

ASUU also highlighted several unresolved welfare issues affecting lecturers, including arrears of the 25–35 per cent salary award, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls associated with the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, unremitted deductions, withheld salaries from the 2022 strike action, and delayed pension payments for retired academics.

The union further disclosed that many state-owned universities in the region were facing additional challenges, such as unpaid Earned Academic Allowances, non-remittance of cooperative deductions and union dues, non-payment of annual increments since 2020, and the absence of governing councils in some institutions.

Beyond welfare concerns, ASUU criticised recent education policies of the Federal Government, particularly the proposed establishment of a Nigerian campus of Coventry University under the Transnational Education framework.

According to the union, the move could weaken local universities and deepen dependence on foreign institutions.

“The proposed establishment of a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria undermines local universities and promotes educational dependency,” the union stated.

ASUU also opposed plans to scrap certain humanities and social science courses, arguing that all academic disciplines remain important for national development.

The union blamed rising unemployment on poor economic policies, corruption, and misplaced priorities rather than the courses studied in universities.

On insecurity, ASUU lamented the increasing cases of banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence across Northern Nigeria, saying many students and lecturers now carry out their activities under fear and uncertainty.

“Banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and communal conflicts continue to threaten lives, livelihoods and educational activities, particularly in Northern Nigeria,” Sabo said.

The union urged governments at all levels to urgently address insecurity, poverty, and unemployment to create a conducive environment for learning and national development.

It also appealed to parents, students, civil society organisations, and Nigerians to support efforts aimed at building a functional and adequately funded public university system.

ASUU, however, maintained that while it remains committed to dialogue and constructive engagement, it would not stay silent while agreements are ignored and the nation’s university system continues to deteriorate.