The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened a nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of failing to honour long-standing agreements on revitalising and adequately funding Nigeria’s public universities.
Speaking at a press conference at the University of Jos on Thursday, ASUU President Christopher Piwuna said lecturers have endured more than two years of unfulfilled promises and government delays.
Piwuna highlighted unresolved issues including the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, unpaid salary arrears, withheld promotions, and the welfare of retired lecturers.
“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,” he said.
“As always, it is the FGN that has consistently pushed our union to embark on strike action. It is clear that ASUU may have no other option than to take action to compel the government to address our demands.”
Piwuna rejected the government’s proposed tertiary institutions staff support fund loan scheme, 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. The government is still owing us three months’ salaries, yet they are asking us to borrow money,” he said.
The union also criticised the rapid proliferation of universities without sustainable funding, warning that it has lowered academic standards and global rankings. On pensions, ASUU lamented that professors who served over 40 years now receive as little as ₦150,000 monthly, despite rising inflation and living costs.
ASUU said it will await the outcome of a government meeting scheduled for August 28 before deciding on its next steps. In the meantime, it announced plans for rallies across campuses next week to express frustration.
Piwuna warned: “Time is running out. We cannot continue to wait endlessly while the future of Nigerian universities is destroyed.”
With this warning, concerns are rising that another ASUU strike may be imminent, threatening further disruption to Nigeria’s fragile education system.
