The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the Federal Government to urgently address lingering issues from past negotiations, warning that a strike may be imminent if these matters remain unresolved. At a press conference held at the Festus Iyayi National Secretariat Complex, University of Abuja, ASUU President voiced deep dissatisfaction with what he described as years of neglect and broken promises affecting university education in Nigeria.
ASUU highlighted several long-standing grievances, notably the Federal Government’s failure to implement the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, the poor state of university autonomy, and worsening work conditions across public universities. The union said these unresolved challenges continue to damage the morale of academics and undermine the quality of education.
The union president stated that the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, which resumed in 2017 and was last updated in December 2024, has once again stalled, leaving university lecturers in uncertainty. He described the government’s commitment as weak, accusing it of merely paying lip-service to education and the welfare of academic staff.
ASUU urged the government to immediately release N150 billion pledged as revitalisation funds and fulfil promises regarding the mainstreaming of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) into lecturers’ salaries. The government had reportedly agreed to release N50 billion for outstanding EAA payments and budgeted N29 billion for 2025 payments, but the union says it is yet to see these funds materialize.
In addition, ASUU is demanding the release of unpaid salaries for lecturers affected by the 2022 strike, and payments for academics on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments who have also been left unpaid. The union insists that the delayed signing of the renegotiated agreement, based on the 2021 Nimi Briggs Committee draft, reflects a continued disregard for the academic community.
ASUU has also expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the Yayale Ahmed Committee, which was tasked with reviewing and finalising the draft agreement. The union claims to have reached a mutual understanding with the committee but is still waiting for official approval and implementation, five months after discussions concluded.
During the press conference, the union emphasized that it had exercised restraint for over a year in avoiding strike action, but the patience of its members is wearing thin. Delegates at ASUU’s recent National Delegates’ Conference in UNIBEN reportedly reviewed the federal government’s approach and concluded that there has been no meaningful progress in the last two years.
The union is now appealing to the government to act swiftly to avoid another nationwide disruption in the university system. ASUU reiterated its readiness to defend the rights and welfare of its members and called on patriotic Nigerians to support its struggle to improve the education sector and the future of the country.
