The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has again raised the prospect of a nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of reneging on agreements critical to the revitalisation and funding of Nigeria’s public universities.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the University of Jos on Thursday, ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said lecturers have endured over two years of unmet commitments despite repeated appeals.
He highlighted unresolved issues including the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, unpaid salary arrears, delayed promotions, and poor welfare packages for retired academics.
“The public should note that we have written several letters to the Federal Government urging an amicable resolution. Unfortunately, our pleas have been ignored. Once again, it is the government’s indifference that is pushing us toward strike action,” Piwuna said.
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The ASUU president also dismissed the government’s proposed staff support loan scheme for tertiary institutions, describing it as a “trap” that fails to address the real challenges facing lecturers. “We do not need loans. What we need is the implementation of agreements that restore our purchasing power. Government still owes us three months’ salaries, yet it is asking us to borrow,” he added.
The union further condemned the proliferation of universities without adequate funding, saying the policy has eroded academic standards and lowered Nigeria’s global ranking. ASUU also lamented that retired professors who served for decades now earn as little as ₦150,000 monthly, a figure eroded by inflation.
Piwuna disclosed that rallies will be staged on campuses nationwide next week ahead of a government meeting on August 28. “Time is running out,” he warned. “We cannot continue to wait while the future of Nigerian universities is destroyed.”
