ASUU Protest Rocks Plateau State University Over Unpaid Salaries and Allowances

ASUU protest rocks Plateau State University as lecturers demand unpaid salaries, earned allowances, and removal of universities from IPPIS to avert strike.

ASUU Members Stage Protest in Plateau State University

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members at Plateau State University, Bokkos, staged a protest on Tuesday in line with the directive of the union’s National Secretariat. The demonstration was joined by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shedrack Best, and ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, underscoring the seriousness of the issues at stake.

During the protest, the union highlighted the growing challenges faced by Nigerian lecturers, stressing that the federal government must act urgently to prevent another nationwide strike in public universities.

Key Demands of ASUU

Speaking at the protest, the Plateau State University ASUU Chairman, Dr. Monday Hassan Zitta, read the union’s press statement, listing their major demands. According to him, Nigerian lecturers are overstretched and underfunded, yet blamed for systemic failures in the education sector.

ASUU’s demands include:

Payment of earned academic allowances and withheld salary arrears already captured in the 2023 budget.
Review of the salary structure, which has remained unchanged for 15 years.
Removal of universities from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
Action against the proliferation of universities without proper funding and staffing.
Adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) to safeguard university autonomy.

Dr. Zitta lamented that lecturers are struggling with research in poorly equipped laboratories, teaching under challenging conditions, and managing personal responsibilities on stagnant wages.

Concerns Over IPPIS and University Autonomy

ASUU reiterated its rejection of the IPPIS platform, describing it as a deliberate attempt to undermine the independence of Nigerian universities. According to the union, the government’s refusal to adopt UTAS—a more efficient homegrown payment system—remains a major source of conflict.

Prof. Chris Piwuna, the ASUU National President, stressed that the union would not back down until the government fulfills its promises. However, he added that further industrial action could be avoided if the federal government listens and addresses the issues in good faith.

Wider Impact of ASUU Protest

The protest at Plateau State University was not isolated. A similar demonstration also took place at the University of Jos, showing that frustration among academics is mounting nationwide.

These protests serve as a warning of a potential national strike in Nigerian universities if urgent measures are not taken. For more related updates on academic struggles and government negotiations, you can check androidpols.com.ng, which covers education and policy developments in Nigeria.

For authoritative reporting on higher education and labour disputes, the Guardian Nigeria also provides in-depth coverage of ASUU matters and government responses.

The ASUU protest at Plateau State University highlights deep-rooted challenges in Nigeria’s tertiary education system. With unpaid allowances, stagnant salaries, and unresolved disputes over IPPIS and UTAS, the union insists that its members cannot continue to bear the brunt of neglect.

Unless the government takes urgent action, the possibility of another nationwide ASUU strike in 2025 looms large—threatening academic stability and the future of millions of students across Nigeria.