Gombe varsity ASUU rejects salary arrears, threatens fresh strike

File: Gombe State University

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Gombe State University branch, on Tuesday rejected the salary arrears paid to its members, alleging that the amounts fell short of their entitlements under the 2025 agreement between the union and the Federal Government.

The union also resolved to commence active non-compliance from Wednesday, November 4, until all academic staff are paid their October salaries.

The resolutions were contained in a statement issued on Tuesday following a congress meeting of the union in Gombe.

According to the statement signed by the branch chairperson, Dr Mustapha-Shehu Shehu, and secretary, Dr Aliyu-Umar Shelleng, the congress reviewed the implementation of the 2025 ASUU-FGN agreement and the memorandum of understanding reached with the university management before expressing dissatisfaction with the level of compliance.

“The Congress is dissatisfied with the implementation of the agreement by the University Management.

“The union consequently rejected the payment made as arrears of the new salary scale, insisting that the amounts paid did not reflect the full entitlements of academic staff.

“It also resolved to seek permission from the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) to resume its suspended strike action until the correct arrears under the new salary structure are paid to members,” the statement said.

“Commence active non-compliance with effect from 4th November, 2026, until all academic staff are paid October 2026 salaries,” one of the resolutions stated.

The union’s proposed action comes amid concerns over the implementation of the 2025 ASUU-FGN agreement and its related memorandum of understanding at the institution.

Recall that Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, approved an additional N148.762m monthly subvention for Gombe State University to facilitate the implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tool Allowance, effective from October 2026.

The Secretary to the Gombe State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Director-General of Press Affairs at the Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli, conveying the governor’s approval.

Njodi said the additional funding represented a 56 per cent increase in the university’s monthly subvention and would enable the institution to make adequate budgetary provisions for the implementation of the enhanced salary structure.

He said the funds would be reflected in the 2026 supplementary budget, which was expected to be considered by the Gombe State House of Assembly in September.

“Governor Inuwa Yahaya has approved an additional N148.762 million monthly subvention to the institution to facilitate the full implementation of the Enhanced Salary Structure, known as the Consolidated Academic Tool Allowance, effective from October 2026,” Njodi said.

Following the announcement, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Gombe State University branch, suspended its planned total and indefinite strike, giving the state government and university management until October 2026 to implement agreements reached with the union.

The decision was contained in a resolution issued by the union after its congress meeting on Friday, August 21, 2026.

The resolution was signed by the branch chairperson, Mustapha Muhammad, and secretary, Aliyu Shelleng.

The union said the congress considered a letter from the Gombe State Government on the commencement of the implementation of the new salary scale for academic staff, as well as a memorandum of understanding reached with the university management on the payment of outstanding arrears of members’ entitlements.

“Following deliberations, the congress resolved to suspend the planned industrial action to allow the government and management to demonstrate their commitment to the agreements.

“The Congress, after extensive deliberations, resolved to suspend the planned commencement of the industrial action in order to give both the government and the university management the benefit of doubt on the implementation of the promises by the end of October 2026,” the statement read.