1The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi Zone, is rejecting the federal government’s claim that “lack of funds” is the reason it cannot fulfil salary demands for university staff.

Prof. Timothy Namu, Bauchi Zonal Coordinator, said on 15 November 2025, during a press briefing in Jos.

Namu argued that recent revenue data proves otherwise.

He pointed out that in 2022, states received ₦3.92 trillion from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, which rose to ₦5.81 trillion in 2024, a 62 percent increase. Meanwhile, federal receipts climbed from ₦3.42 trillion to ₦4.65 trillion, a 70 percent hike.

He said these numbers show the problem is not fiscal shortage but “lack of political will and misplacement of priorities.”

Namu further criticized the salary proposal offered by the government, saying it was “a drop in the ocean” and would not stop the “brain drain” plaguing Nigerian universities.

He added that during ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting on 8–9 November 2025 in Jalingo, the union rejected the proposed pay increase and later held an emergency meeting to assess the situation.

ASUU is now calling on traditional rulers, civil society, students, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and members of the National Assembly to pressure the government to prioritize education funding, warning that without action, further strikes may be unavoidable.