The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nasarawa State University chapter, Keffi (NSUK) branch, has warned the Nasarawa State Government that continued neglect of pressing staff welfare issues could lead to industrial action.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, the branch chairperson, Abdulmumini Loko, said the briefing was necessary to draw attention to long-standing concerns that remain unresolved despite multiple engagements with the authorities.
He cautioned that the situation may escalate if urgent steps are not taken to address the union’s demands, particularly the payment of outstanding entitlements.
“Industrial harmony cannot be assured if the Nasarawa State Government fails to urgently clear all outstanding arrears and respond to our demands,” Loko said.
Among the demands listed by the union are the immediate implementation of a 40 per cent salary increase earlier agreed with the Federal Government, improved funding for the university, and the payment of professorial allowances.
The union also called for the settlement of arrears of Earned Academic Allowance, outstanding salary increments of 25 per cent and 35 per cent, as well as arrears linked to the N70,000 minimum wage and the N35,000 wage award.
In addition, ASUU urged the state government to domesticate the contributory pension scheme and ensure timely remittance of its counterpart funding, enforce the approved retirement age for professors, constitute visitation panels regularly, and guarantee that retired professors receive their full salaries as pensions.
Loko warned that failure to address these issues could negatively impact the university system, citing risks such as declining educational standards, increased brain drain, disruption of academic activities, and deteriorating staff welfare.
Reaffirming the union’s preference for dialogue, he, however, noted that members were growing increasingly impatient.
“While we remain open to dialogue and constructive engagement, our members’ patience is not limitless,” he said.
He added that continued inaction by the government could leave the union with no choice but to pursue lawful measures to defend the interests of its members and protect the integrity of the university system.
