IBBU LAPAI: COMRADE MATANE, SETS RECORD STRAIGHT ON ARREARS, STRIKE AND GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT

Comrade Jibrin Matane AbdulAzeez, has clarified issues surrounding the ongoing industrial concerns at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, particularly the outstanding EAA/EA arrears, CONTTA and CATA implementation, the ASUU strike and recent engagements between the University community and the Niger State Government.

In a personal submission, Matane said the intervention was intended to provide factual clarification on recent developments and address what he described as incomplete or misleading narratives, particularly those circulating on social media.

He stressed that the submission was made in his individual capacity and as Chairman of SSANU-IBBUL and did not represent the official position of ASUU, NASU, NATT, the Joint Action Committee, University Management or any other body.

December 2025 JAC Engagement

Matane recalled that the December 2025 engagement with the Niger State Government followed industrial action embarked upon by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the four in-house unions at IBBU Lapai.

He said His Excellency, the Farmer-Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, granted the JAC an audience, led by the then Honourable Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Yakubu Auna, together with University Management, at the Government House, where the unions presented their key demands, including the longstanding issue of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and Earned Allowance (EA) arrears.

According to him, agreements were reached following the engagement, and the major demands presented by the unions were subsequently addressed, while the EAA/EA arrears remained a substantial financial obligation requiring a structured payment arrangement.

The ₦1.3 Billion EAA/EA Arrears

Matane explained that the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) for teaching staff and Earned Allowance (EA) for non-teaching staff are arrears arising from the 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and the respective university unions. The obligations accumulated over successive past administrations and therefore predated the present administration.

Following the December 2025 engagement, an arrangement was established to pay the ₦1.3 billion outstanding arrears at ₦100 million monthly for 13 months, up to January 2027.

He noted that the payment pattern was initially inconsistent, a situation that contributed to frustration and agitation among staff.

Matane said that at a meeting held at the Niger State Government House on 8th September 2026, involving the State Government, chaired by His Excellency, Farmer-Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), University Management and representatives of the four in-house unions**; ASUU, SSANU, NASU and** NATT - the payment position was reviewed.

He said ₦300 million had been paid at that point, leaving ₦1 billion outstanding. The Governor subsequently reviewed the payment arrangement and increased the monthly payment from ₦100 million to ₦200 million for the remaining five months, from September 2026 to January 2027.

The September commitment was subsequently fulfilled, with ₦200 million paid within 24 hours, bringing the total paid to ₦500 million and leaving ₦800 million outstanding.

The payment position, according to Matane, is therefore:

- Original EAA/EA arrears: ₦1.3 billion

- Paid before 8th September: ₦300 million

- September payment: ₦200 million

- Total paid: ₦500 million

- Balance remaining: ₦800 million

While acknowledging that the earlier inconsistency in payment contributed to the agitation, Matane said the progress made in addressing an obligation that predates the present administration should also be recognised.

CONTTA, CATA and the Four In-House Unions

Matane noted that IBBU Lapai has four in-house unions i.e ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NATT, with the wider concerns including EAA/EA arrears and implementation of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Staff Allowance (CONTTA) and Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA).

He explained that CONTTA concerns non-teaching staff, while CATA relates to academic staff, adding that their implementation carries substantial financial implications.

According to him, the Governor has indicated that the financial implication for IBBU Lapai is close to ₦200 million, based on submissions from University Management, and requires appropriate budgetary and administrative arrangements.

He further clarified that the ongoing ASUU strike is connected to the union's peculiar concerns at the local branch and is in line with its national directive. It should therefore not be interpreted as a failure of the local chapter. SSANU, NASU and NATT, he said, have continued to pursue dialogue while remaining subject to their respective national structures and directives.

Continued Government Engagement

Matane said engagements on the issues had continued through the Ministry of Tertiary Education, the Head of Service, the Niger State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Deputy Governor and other government representatives.

He said the Government had acknowledged the financial implications of CONTTA and CATA while also pointing to other pressing responsibilities confronting the State, including insecurity and other administrative demands.

The 22nd September 2026 Government House Visit

Matane also clarified the circumstances surrounding the 22nd September 2026 Government House visit.

According to him, University Management, together with representatives of ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NATT, visited the Government House primarily as a condolence visit to His Excellency and the good people of Niger State, following the tragic loss of 37 miners in Minna.

He said that during the interaction, however, the Governor himself raised the issues of the ongoing agitation, ASUU strike, EAA/EA arrears and CONTTA/CATA.

Matane said the Governor reaffirmed his commitment to the revised EAA/EA payment arrangement and assured the stakeholders that another ₦200 million would be paid in October.

He added that the Governor indicated that, if additional funds became available, he would be willing to consider paying approximately 50 per cent of the remaining balance, about ₦400 million, as a lump sum.

The Governor also appealed for the strike to be suspended and for all parties to return to the negotiation table, while acknowledging that the ASUU local chapter was acting within the framework of a national directive, Matane said.

Call for Responsible Reporting

The SSANU chairman called for responsible reporting of the developments, particularly on social media.

He said some narratives concerning ASUU and the recent engagements had not adequately presented the context and sequence of events, stressing the importance of distinguishing between what was demanded, what was agreed, what had been paid, what remained outstanding and what was still under negotiation.

Matane appealed to students, parents and the wider public to rely on genuine and verifiable information rather than rumours or incomplete social-media narratives.

He said the ultimate objective should be the resolution of the outstanding financial obligations and the establishment of a lasting culture of dialogue through which industrial disputes could be addressed before they escalate.

Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta!