The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again raised the alarm over a possible nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of reneging on key agreements regarding the revitalisation and funding of Nigeria’s public universities.
Speaking at a press conference held at the University of Jos on Thursday, ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, said lecturers have endured over two years of broken promises and government inaction despite repeated appeals for intervention.
Piwuna outlined the unresolved issues, including the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, unpaid salary arrears, withheld promotions, and inadequate welfare packages for retired lecturers.
“The general public should 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. As always, it is the FGN that has consistently pushed our union to embark on strike action, and it is clear that ASUU may have no other option,” he stated.
The ASUU leader also dismissed the government’s proposed staff support loan scheme for tertiary institution workers, describing it as a “trap.”
“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 argued.
ASUU further criticised the proliferation of new universities without sustainable funding, warning that the trend has diluted standards and harmed Nigeria’s global academic rankings. On pensions, the union lamented that professors who served the system for more than four decades now earn as little as ₦150,000 monthly — an amount described as grossly inadequate in the face of soaring inflation.
The union disclosed that it is awaiting the outcome of a scheduled government meeting on August 28 before deciding on its next move, but confirmed that members would stage rallies across campuses next week to express their frustration.
“Time is running out. We cannot continue to wait endlessly while the future of Nigerian universities is destroyed,” Piwuna warned.
