The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared that Nigeria’s public university system would have completely collapsed under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Labour Minister Senator Chris Ngige, if not for the union’s resilience.
Speaking during a grand reception in his honour on Monday at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), immediate-past ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, said the union under his leadership “fought many battles” to prevent the collapse of the public university system.
“Our struggles kept our universities from becoming relics like Nigerian Airways and the refineries,” Osodeke stated. “Ngige’s rough relationship with ASUU created chaos. But for our resilience, the education sector would have been in ruins.”
Osodeke criticised the Buhari administration for neglecting lecturers’ welfare, which he said has driven many Nigerian academics abroad in search of better opportunities. He noted ASUU’s success in removing universities from the IPPS payroll system, enabling retiring professors to receive full pay — a victory he described as “symbolic and long overdue.”
Echoing the union’s continued demands, current ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, vowed not to back down from the struggle for university autonomy, better funding, and improved lecturer welfare.
“Strike remains a global negotiation tool. It’s not peculiar to Nigeria and cannot be ruled out,” Piwuna said. “We will engage the government, but we won’t hesitate to act when necessary.”
The ASUU leadership urged governments at all levels to increase investment in public universities, which they say educate over 95% of university students in Nigeria and still offer better academic quality than many private institutions.
Also speaking, Professor Chike Ugwuene, ASUU Chairman at MOUAU, hailed Osodeke as a tireless defender of Nigerian education and praised his role in fostering harmony between ASUU and MOUAU’s administration.
In a goodwill message, Vice Chancellor of MOUAU, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe — represented by his deputy, Professor Nneoma Obasi — described Osodeke’s tenure as ASUU President as “legendary,” pledging continued cooperation with the union.
As ASUU prepares for the next phase of its long-running advocacy, the message is clear: the union is not done fighting.
