Lecturers at the University of Jos have downed tools over the non payment of their March 2026 salaries, with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UNIJOS branch declaring a total and indefinite withdrawal of services effective Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
The branch chairperson, Professor Jurbe Molwus, directed all members to immediately abstain from lectures, examinations, and statutory meetings. According to Channels Television, he said
“We are on strike, and we are not going to work until we are paid,” Molwus stated.
The industrial action is in compliance with resolutions of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) and the branch congress, following what the union described as prolonged patience over the salary delays.
Beyond the unpaid March salaries, ASUU UNIJOS also cited the exclusion of the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) from staff remuneration as a key grievance.
The union attributed the salary delay to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, noting that the university’s bursary had already completed its processing of the salaries.
The strike did not come entirely without warning. Earlier this month, ASUU President Christopher Piwuna had issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to commence payment of a newly approved salary structure, warning that failure to comply would attract a strong response from the union. Piwuna noted that delays were partly linked to challenges in passing the 2026 national budget, with some federal universities yet to settle January and February wages.
Speaking to TheCable last week, Piwuna had warned: “If our payments are not done in full by the end of this month, there will definitely be a response from us.”
The strike immediately grounds academic activities at UNIJOS, with students unable to attend lectures or sit examinations until the matter is resolved.
The university management and the Federal Government are yet to issue a formal response to the industrial action as of the time of filing this report.
