ASUU-FUK begins non-compliance action over salary reduction

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University Kashere (FUK) branch, has officially commenced an Active Non-Compliance (ANC) action over what it describes as the unlawful and unilateral reduction of members' salaries by the Federal Government. According to reports made available to journalists in Gombe by the branch Chairperson, Dr. Salihu Adam Jidda, the drastic decision was reached following an emergency branch congress held on August 13, 2026. The union stated that this industrial measure strictly follows a directive issued by the national leadership of ASUU after previous diplomatic engagements and interventions failed to yield any positive resolution.

Tracing the genesis of the dispute, the union recalled that the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement was ostensibly implemented across federal tertiary institutions in January 2026 following an official government circular. However, unconfirmed accounts indicate that by July 2026, academic staff experienced inexplicable and severe cuts in their monthly emoluments, a development the union fiercely condemns as a blatant breach of the existing negotiated agreement. The union emphasized that this unexpected salary slash has subjected lecturers and their dependents to acute financial hardship, severely undermining their morale and compromising their ability to discharge their core academic mandates effectively.

Before resorting to the current industrial action, ASUU-FUK maintained that it exhausted all available internal mechanisms to resolve the impasse peacefully. The branch leadership reportedly engaged the University Vice-Chancellor through formal written communications and physical consultative meetings, earnestly seeking administrative intervention. Unfortunately, these engagements failed to produce a tangible solution, leaving the union with no alternative than to activate the National Executive Council (NEC) directive on Active Non-Compliance, which stems from pre-NEC resolutions adopted in Benin in 2025.

Consequently, with effect from August 13, 2026, all academic staff members have been instructed to completely withdraw their services across multiple institutional fronts. The affected duties include classroom teaching, preparation and marking of examinations, supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research projects, as well as attendance and participation in statutory university meetings and departmental committees. The union explicitly warned that any participation in these restricted activities during the period of the action would be treated as anti-union conduct, subject to internal disciplinary measures.

While describing the action as regrettable but utterly necessary, ASUU-FUK reiterated its commitment to student welfare and the overall institutional integrity of the university. The branch urged the Federal Government and the university management to expedite actions toward restoring full salary payments and honoring the 2025 pact. Furthermore, the union strongly appealed to the Vice-Chancellor to refrain from victimizing any member for exercising their legitimate trade union rights, expressing optimism that a just and timely resolution will soon be reached.