The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh warning of a possible nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of failing to implement longstanding agreements on the revitalisation and proper funding of Nigeria’s public universities.
Speaking at a press conference held at the University of Jos on Thursday, ASUU President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, lamented that lecturers have endured over two years of unfulfilled promises and government delay tactics.
He highlighted unresolved issues such as the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, unpaid salary arrears, withheld promotions, and the welfare of retired academics.
“The general public should note that ASUU has written several letters to the Federal Government urging dialogue. Sadly, the government has consistently turned a deaf ear to our pleas,” Piwuna said. “It is the government’s refusal to act that forces ASUU to consider strike action, and once again, we may have no choice but to press for our demands.”
READ ALSO
ASUU Fires Fresh Shots, Vows to Keep Fighting
The ASUU chief also dismissed the government’s proposed staff loan scheme for tertiary institution workers, 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 expects us to borrow money,” he stated.
Piwuna further criticised the proliferation of universities without adequate funding, warning that such policies have eroded academic standards and damaged Nigeria’s global rankings. He also decried the poor pensions of professors who, after over 40 years of service, now receive as little as ₦150,000 monthly despite soaring inflation.
The union said it would await the outcome of a government meeting scheduled for August 28 before deciding on its next line of action. In the meantime, ASUU announced that lecturers across the country will stage rallies next week to express their frustrations.
“Time is running out,” Piwuna warned. “We cannot continue to wait endlessly while the future of Nigerian universities is destroyed.”
With this latest warning, concerns are rising that another ASUU strike could soon disrupt Nigeria’s fragile education system.
