The Academic Staff Union of Universities has called on the Federal Government to prioritise adequate funding for public universities, saying it is the only lasting solution to recurring strikes and the poor global ranking of Nigerian institutions.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund at the National Assembly on Friday, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said insufficient funding has been the root cause of the crises plaguing Nigeria’s higher education system.
“We have engaged the Federal Government for over eight years without tangible results,” Piwuna said. “The Yayale Ahmed Committee report, which was submitted in December 2024, was ignored until this current warning strike began.”
The union, which embarked on a two-week warning strike on October 13, said its demands — including revitalisation funding, improved conditions of service, university autonomy, and payment of withheld salaries — remain unresolved.
Piwuna noted that although ₦150 billion was approved by the National Assembly for universities, only ₦50 billion has so far been released, and the funds have been delayed at the Ministry of Education.
“Even the ₦50 billion released is still stuck at the Ministry of Education, where the minister plans to share it among universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, despite the fact that each institution has separate allocations,” he said.
The ASUU president urged the Senate to compel the Federal Government to release and properly channel funds for university development.
“Try us. Push government to fund universities adequately and you will see the end of strikes and the improvement of our universities in global rankings,” he said.
Piwuna also alleged that the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, was attempting to encroach on a portion of land belonging to the University of Abuja.
“The University of Abuja has over 10,000 hectares of land, and despite several appeals, the minister continues to show interest in acquiring part of it,” he stated. “We urge the Senate to intervene and prevail on him to leave the university’s land alone.”
ASUU maintained that proper funding and respect for agreements remain key to ending the cycle of industrial actions in the education sector.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has insisted that it has met the union’s demands and is open to continued dialogue. However, it has maintained the enforcement of the no-work, no-pay policy for striking lecturers.
