The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh warning of a possible nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of reneging on long-standing agreements regarding the revitalisation and proper funding of Nigeria’s public universities.
At a press conference held on Thursday at the University of Jos, ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, said university lecturers have endured over two years of broken promises and neglect from the government.
He listed unresolved issues to include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, unpaid salary arrears, withheld promotions, and inadequate welfare provisions for retired academics.
“The general public should note that ASUU has written several letters to the Federal Government, appealing for a peaceful resolution. Unfortunately, our pleas have been ignored, and as always, it is the FGN that has pushed our union toward considering strike action,” Piwuna said.
The union also rejected the government’s proposed tertiary institutions staff support loan scheme, describing it as a “trap.”
“Our members do not need loans. What we need is the implementation of agreements that will restore our purchasing power. Government still owes us three months’ salaries, yet it is asking us to borrow,” he stated.
ASUU further criticised the unchecked proliferation of new universities without adequate funding, warning that the trend has contributed to declining standards and poor global rankings.
On pensions, the union lamented that professors who had served for more than four decades were left with meagre monthly stipends of about ₦150,000, despite inflation and soaring living costs.
Piwuna said the union will await the outcome of a government meeting scheduled for August 28 before deciding its next step. Meanwhile, members are set to stage rallies across university campuses next week to express their grievances.
“Time is running out. We cannot continue to wait endlessly while the future of Nigerian universities is destroyed,” the ASUU president warned.
The union’s threat has heightened fears of another nationwide strike, raising concerns about fresh disruptions to Nigeria’s fragile higher education system.
