The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has, again, threatened a nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of failing to honour longstanding agreements on the revitalisation and proper funding of Nigeria’s public universities.
The Union stated this during a press conference at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) on Thursday.
Speaking at the briefing, ASUU President, Dr. Christopher Piwuna, said lecturers have endured over two years of broken promises and delay tactics by the government.
He listed unresolved issues to include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, outstanding salary arrears, withheld promotions, and the welfare of retired lecturers.
“The general public should also note that ASUU has written several letters to the Federal Government, drawing its attention to the need to resolve this crisis amicably. Lamentably, the government has always turned a deaf ear to all our pleas,” Piwuna said.
“As always, it is the Federal Government that has consistently pushed our union to embark on strike actions. It is now clear that ASUU may have no other option than to take action to compel the government to listen to our demands and do the needful.”
According to him, despite repeated assurances, the government has failed to address the outstanding issues, a development which could plunge the education sector into yet another crisis.
Piwuna also rejected the government’s proposed tertiary institutions staff support 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 still owes us three months’ salaries, yet they are asking us to borrow money,” he said.
The union further criticised the proliferation of universities without sustainable funding, warning that such actions have lowered academic standards and weakened Nigeria’s global rankings.
On pensions, ASUU lamented that 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 would await the outcome of a government meeting scheduled for August 28 before deciding on its next line of action. However, it announced that members would stage rallies across campuses next week to demonstrate their frustrations.
Piwuna warned: “Time is running out. We cannot continue to wait endlessly while the future of Nigerian universities is destroyed.”