The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again raised the alarm over what it calls the Federal Government’s refusal to honour key agreements on university funding, warning that another nationwide strike may be unavoidable.
At a press briefing held at the University of Jos on Thursday, ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, accused the government of abandoning commitments made to the union for more than two years.
He outlined lingering disputes, including the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, non-payment of salary arrears, delays in promotions, and neglect of retired academics.
“The general public should also note that ASUU has written several letters to the FGN drawing its attention to the need to resolve this crisis amicably. Lamentably, the FGN has always turned a deaf ear to all our pleas,” Piwuna said.
He added: “As always, it is the FGN that has consistently pushed our union to embark on a strike action, and it is clear that ASUU may have no other option than to embark on an action to press the FGN to listen to our demands and do the needful. The government made promises on these issues. Regrettably, we are here today to inform the Nigerian public, through you, that these undisputed issues could lead to a crisis in our educational sector have met, as with other consequences, nothing but the same response.”
Piwuna also criticised the administration’s proposed loan initiative for university staff, rejecting it as a deceptive measure. “Our members do not need loans. What we need is the implementation of agreements that will improve our purchasing power. Government is still owing us three months’ salaries, yet they are asking us to borrow money,” he said.
The union further condemned the continuous establishment of new universities without adequate funding, noting that this has worsened poor global rankings. It also lamented that retired professors who dedicated decades to the system now survive on meagre pensions, in some cases as low as ₦150,000 monthly, despite soaring inflation.
ASUU disclosed that rallies will be held across campuses next week to highlight their frustrations. The union, however, said it would wait for the outcome of a government meeting fixed for August 28 before deciding whether to shut down universities.
“Time is running out. We cannot continue to wait endlessly while the future of Nigerian universities is destroyed,” Piwuna warned.
The possibility of another prolonged strike is already sparking concerns that Nigeria’s higher education system could face fresh disruptions, leaving students and parents bracing for impact.
