By Palang Paul
The Management of Plateau State University, Bokkos, has described ASUU-PLASU’s indefinite strike as ill-motivated, insisting that progress has been made on its demands.
In a statement dated August 27, 2026, and signed by the University Registrar, Mr. Yakubu F. Ayuba, management responded to the six issues cited by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, PLASU Branch, for declaring the strike effective August 25.
The management said it had carefully reviewed the union’s demands and provided clarifications to staff, students, parents and the general public, stressing that several of the issues were already being addressed through ongoing engagements.
On the contributory pension scheme, the university said it was aware of ASUU-PLASU’s continued engagement over the constitution and commencement of a Gratuity Board to manage the university’s gratuity funds.
It said the board had already been constituted with ASUU represented, while the Governing Council and Management had secured approval from the Plateau State Government, through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, for a pension policy for the university.
Management said it would not impose a contributory pension scheme on staff but would develop a comprehensive pension framework in consultation with all unions in the university.
On the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, management said the Plateau State Government had approved its full implementation at PLASU and released funds for the process.
According to the university, payment under the new salary structure commenced on August 25, 2026, the same day ASUU-PLASU began its indefinite strike.
Management, however, acknowledged that some staff experienced overpayment and underpayment during the initial implementation of the new salary structure, attributing the discrepancies to errors associated with the commencement of a new salary regime.
The Vice-Chancellor was said to have directed the Bursar to immediately resolve the payment discrepancies and ensure that affected staff receive the correct amounts.
On salary arrears dating from January 1, 2026, management said discussions between the Head of Service and the union were still ongoing under the principle of collective bargaining.
Regarding the demand for safe and secure staff quarters, the university said management, in collaboration with the Governing Council, was already working towards developing staff housing.
It said the issue was communicated to ASUU during a meeting with management on July 27, 2026, held as part of the union’s National Visitation to the university.
Management further argued that staff housing was no longer a standard practice in the public service and therefore should not reasonably form the basis for industrial action.
On ASUU’s demand for trenches around the university’s perimeter fence, management described the demand as an opinion of the union rather than a formal basis for industrial action.
The university said it was instead deploying technology-driven security measures while making progress on the construction of the campus perimeter fence, a project it said recently received funding approval from the Visitor to the University.
Management added that ASUU had been regularly briefed on the security measures being implemented.
On the allegation of intimidation of union leaders, the university said it was surprised that the issue was included among the reasons for the strike.
According to management, the matter concerned a query issued to Dr. Iliya K. Lomka, which it described as a legitimate administrative action.
It said the query was subsequently withdrawn on July 29, 2026, following the intervention of a national delegation of the union, adding that Dr. Lomka acknowledged receipt of the withdrawal letter on the same day.
Management therefore considered the matter closed.
On ASUU’s demand for the payment of 22 months’ arrears of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage award, the university said the wage award was a Federal Government intervention that was later domesticated by the Plateau State Government.
According to management, the state government paid palliatives to PLASU staff for four months while awaiting implementation of the new minimum wage.
It said the issue was subsequently overtaken by the approval and full implementation of the new minimum wage in Plateau State, including at PLASU.
The university management consequently described ASUU-PLASU’s decision to embark on an indefinite strike as “ill-motivated and in bad faith,” arguing that there had been continuous engagement and measurable progress on the issues raised by the union.
It said the engagements involved ASUU National and Zonal Visitation Teams, which met with the university management, the Plateau State Government and the Visitor to the university.
Management appealed to ASUU-PLASU to call off the strike in the interest of students, parents and the people of Plateau State, who it said would bear the consequences of the disruption to academic activities.
The university reaffirmed its willingness to continue dialogue and collective bargaining with the union, maintaining that it remained committed to resolving the outstanding issues through engagement.
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