The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned of a looming nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of reneging on long-standing agreements regarding the revitalisation and proper funding of public universities.
The union’s president, Christopher Piwuna, raised the alarm on Thursday during a press conference at the University of Jos. He said lecturers had endured over two years of broken promises and deliberate delay tactics by the government.
Piwuna listed unresolved issues including the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, outstanding salary arrears, withheld promotions, and the welfare of retired lecturers.
He said, “The general public should also note that ASUU has written several letters to the FGN drawing its attention to the need to resolve this crisis amicably. Lamentably, the FGN has always turned a deaf ear to all our pleas.
“As always, it is the FGN that has consistently pushed our union to embark on a strike action, and it is clear that ASUU may have no other option than to embark on an action to press the FGN to listen to our demands and do the needful.”
The ASUU president also dismissed the government’s proposed tertiary institutions staff support fund loan scheme, describing it as “a trap.”
“Our members do not need loans. What we need is the implementation of agreements that will improve our purchasing power. Government is still owing us three months’ salaries, yet they are asking us to borrow money,” Piwuna stated.
ASUU further criticised the proliferation of universities without sustainable funding, warning that the trend has worsened standards and damaged global rankings.
On pensions, the union lamented that some professors who served for over 40 years now receive as little as ₦150,000 monthly despite rising inflation and living costs.
The union said it will await the outcome of a scheduled government meeting on August 28 before deciding its next move. However, it announced that members will stage rallies across campuses next week to express their frustrations.
Piwuna warned, “Time is running out. We cannot continue to wait endlessly while the future of Nigerian universities is destroyed.”
With this warning, fears are mounting that another round of ASUU strike could be imminent, further disrupting Nigeria’s fragile education system.
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