MAKURDI, Nigeria — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, formerly the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has declared an immediate and comprehensive strike. The decision was made following a congress meeting on August 12, 2026.

ASUU-JOSTUM chairperson, Terseer Abari, stated in a release made available to journalists on Wednesday that the strike, themed “No-Pay-No-Work,” is aimed at compelling the university authorities to pay all outstanding salaries owed to its members.

Abari explained that the university has only disbursed two of the four components agreed upon in the 2025 Federal Government and ASUU agreement. Specifically, the Consolidated Academic Staff Salaries and the Earned Academic Allowance have been paid.

However, the union highlighted that the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and Professorial Allowance have only seen partial payments. These two components were reportedly paid only for January and February 2026, with the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance for March 2026 receiving only 39 percent of the due amount.

“The University has only paid the Consolidated Academic Staff Salaries and the Earned Academic Allowance components of the salaries to date,” the statement read. “The remaining two components, Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and Professorial Allowance, have only been paid in January and February 2026, while only 39 per cent of the CATA for March 2026 has also been paid. All these amount to underpayment of salaries of members of ASUU.”

The union’s congress, held at the Science Lecture Theatre, South Core, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, resolved to activate the provision in the National Executive Council (NEC) resolution of August 8-9 to commence the strike.

During the strike period, all academic activities will be suspended. This includes teaching, student supervision, examinations, and statutory meetings. The union stated that academic activities will only resume once all outstanding salary payments are settled.