ASUU members at Plateau State University, Bokkos, say unresolved pension, salary and security demands triggered the industrial action

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Plateau State University, Bokkos chapter, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, declared a total and indefinite strike after the university administration failed to satisfactorily resolve the union’s six-point charter of demands.

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The decision followed a congress meeting held after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the university management on August 11.

In a statement signed by the ASUU-PLASU Bokkos Chairperson, Vincent D. Choji, and Secretary, Lomka Kopdiya, the union said its demands remained unresolved despite the expiration of the deadline.

“Congress is convinced that the substance of our demands on all six items has not been satisfactorily addressed,” the union said.

The lecturers subsequently directed all members to suspend academic activities across the institution until further notice.

The Plateau varsity strike has been backed by the union’s National Executive Council, according to the statement, which said Congress reached the decision after securing the necessary approval from the national leadership of ASUU.

At the centre of the dispute is the demand for the commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme for university staff.

The union is also demanding the full implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, including the payment of arrears dating from January 1, 2026.

Another major issue concerns the 22-month arrears of the 25/35 per cent wage award, which the lecturers say remains outstanding.

The union has also raised concerns about staff welfare and security within the university community.

It demanded the provision of safe and secure staff quarters and the construction of trenches around the university’s perimeter fence, citing the need for improved protection for members of staff.

ASUU-PLASU Bokkos also accused the university administration of intimidating union leaders and called for an end to what it described as such actions.

The demands come against the backdrop of continuing negotiations and disputes between ASUU and university authorities over the implementation of agreements, staff welfare and funding across Nigeria’s public university system.

At the national level, ASUU has repeatedly pressed the Federal Government to honour agreements reached with the union, particularly those concerning improved remuneration, university funding and working conditions.

The union’s latest action at Plateau State University therefore adds a fresh layer to the longstanding challenges confronting industrial relations in Nigeria’s university sector.

The Bokkos chapter said it had resorted to industrial action only after giving the university administration an opportunity to address the issues raised in its ultimatum.

The declaration means academic activities involving ASUU members at the institution will remain suspended indefinitely unless the union and university administration reach an agreement capable of resolving the outstanding demands.

For students, the immediate impact is likely to be disruption to lectures, assessments and other academic activities handled by affected lecturers.

The union did not announce a specific timeline for ending the action, instead directing members to remain on strike until further notice.

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The development places pressure on the university administration to engage the union and address the issues that triggered the dispute, while also highlighting the wider need for sustained dialogue over the welfare and working conditions of academic staff in Nigeria’s public universities.