ASUU Begins Indefinite Strike, Shuts Plateau Varsity Over Unresolved Demands

Academic activities have been suspended at the Plateau State University, Bokkos, following an indefinite strike by the university chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

This decision was taken after the union’s Congress met on Tuesday August 25, 2026 after the university management failed to satisfactorily resolve issues raised by the lecturers.

The union in a statement signed and made public on Thursday by the ASUU-PLASU Chairperson, Vincent Choji, and Secretary, Lomka Iliya, said it had earlier issued a 14-day ultimatum to the management to resolve its concerns.

The ultimatum issued on August 11 expired without what the lecturers considered a satisfactory resolution of the issues.

The union said the university administration responded to the ultimatum in a letter dated August 18.

But ASUU said the response did not satisfactorily address the issues in its demands.

The lecturers said attempts to resolve the matter failed leaving them with no option but to embark on industrial action.

The strike, the union said, had been approved by the National Executive Council of ASUU.

One of the issues raised by the lecturers is the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme for staff members.

They are also demanding the full implementation of the 2025 agreement signed between the Federal Government and ASUU and the payment of outstanding arrears from January 2026.

Another big concern raised by the union is the state of staff accommodation.

The ASUU is demanding the provision of safe and secure staff quarters for its members and the construction of trenches around the perimeter fence of the university to improve security.

The lecturers also accused the management of intimidating union leaders and called for an end to such acts as they described it.

In addition, the union wants payment of 22 months’ arrears of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage award.

Following the congress decision, ASUU-PLASU directed all its members to withdraw from academic activities with immediate effect.

The directive will remain in force until further notice, the union said. The lecturers appealed to members, students and other stakeholders to understand the basis of the action, saying the strike became inevitable after the outstanding issues remained unresolved.