The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to begin a nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of failing to honour agreements on the revitalisation and proper funding of Nigeria’s public universities.
Speaking at a press conference in Jos on Thursday, ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, said lecturers have endured over two years of unfulfilled promises and government delay tactics.
He listed the major issues as the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement, unpaid salary arrears, withheld promotions, and poor welfare for retired lecturers.
“We have written several letters to the Federal Government, urging them to address these issues amicably. Unfortunately, the government has ignored all our appeals,” Piwuna said.
“It is always the government that pushes our union to go on strike. If nothing changes, ASUU may have no choice but to take action.”
The ASUU president also rejected the government’s proposed loan scheme for tertiary institution staff, 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. The government still owes us three months’ salaries, yet it is asking us to borrow money,” he said.
ASUU further criticised the establishment of more universities without sustainable funding, warning that it has weakened standards and reduced Nigeria’s global ranking.
On pensions, the union lamented that professors who worked for more than 40 years now earn as little as ₦150,000 monthly, despite the high cost of living.
Piwuna revealed that ASUU will wait for the outcome of a government meeting scheduled for August 28 before deciding on its next steps. However, members will hold rallies across campuses next week to express their frustration.
“Time is running out. We cannot continue to wait endlessly while the future of Nigerian universities is destroyed,” he warned.
