ASUU Warns of Fresh Industrial Crisis Over Unimplemented Agreement, Lecturers’ Welfare
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned that Nigeria’s university system may face another round of industrial unrest if the Federal Government fails to fully implement the December 2025 agreement reached with the union.
Speaking at the end of the union’s National Executive Council meeting held at Modibbo Adama University between May 9 and 10, ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as the distorted and selective implementation of the agreement by federal and state authorities.
According to the union, the failure of government to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee has created bureaucratic bottlenecks and slowed down the execution of key components of the agreement.
ASUU accused some university administrators of selectively paying allowances such as the Consolidated Academic Tool Allowance, Earned Academic Allowance and Professorial Allowance instead of fully integrating them into lecturers’ salary packages.
The union also faulted several state governments for allegedly refusing to honour the agreement despite participating in the negotiations.
ASUU further raised concerns over the Federal Government’s proposed National Research and Innovation Development Fund announced by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa. The union argued that the initiative did not reflect the provisions of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement, which recommended that at least one percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product be dedicated to research, innovation and development.
The union questioned the minister’s reference to a proposed $500 million funding structure, warning against what it described as attempts by external interests to hijack Nigeria’s research agenda.
On staff welfare, ASUU lamented the continued non-payment of outstanding entitlements owed lecturers, including arrears of the 25–35 percent salary award, promotion arrears, withheld salaries from the 2022 strike action, salary shortfalls linked to the IPPIS platform and unremitted third-party deductions.
The union described the continued withholding of salaries as unjust, noting that lecturers continued with research and community service even during strike periods.
ASUU also expressed concern over the welfare of retired academics, particularly those facing delays in pension payments and benefit harmonisation by the National Pension Commission.
The union called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in resolving the lingering welfare issues to preserve industrial peace in public universities.
The academic union also criticised several recent education policy pronouncements by the Federal Government.
It opposed the reversal of the mother-tongue policy in early childhood education, insisting that indigenous languages remain critical to cognitive development and educational advancement.
ASUU equally rejected the Federal Government’s plan to establish a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria under the Transnational Education framework, describing it as a neo-colonial initiative capable of undermining Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The union further faulted the compulsory enrolment of academics into the Nigeria Education Repository Databank, arguing that the policy was introduced without adequate consultation and could violate data privacy laws and academic autonomy.
ASUU also opposed reports suggesting that government planned to scrap some university courses considered “irrelevant,” particularly in the humanities and social sciences. The union argued that such programmes remain vital for critical thinking, creativity and national development.
On governance in universities, ASUU condemned what it described as irregular appointments, financial mismanagement and the introduction of questionable academic positions by some university administrators.
The union also criticised the alleged attempt by the Niger State Government to reclaim the Bosso campus of Federal University of Technology Minna, warning that such action could create a dangerous precedent for university development across the country.
Addressing the state of the nation, ASUU expressed worries over worsening insecurity, rising poverty, unemployment and political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The union said ordinary Nigerians were bearing the brunt of economic hardship while insecurity continued to disrupt farming, business and education across different parts of the country.
ASUU appealed to Nigerians and stakeholders to prevail on governments at all levels to fully implement the 2025 agreement and address outstanding issues affecting lecturers.
The union, however, disclosed that it would convene an emergency meeting in the coming weeks to reassess the situation and decide on further actions if government fails to respond.
