The Academic Staff Union of Universities has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate implementation of the long-standing 2009 ASUU-FG agreement or risk a nationwide industrial action.
According to The PUNCH, the ASUU National President, Dr. Chris Piwuna, expressed deep concern over what he described as the federal government’s persistent neglect of public universities and failure to honour its commitments.
“Our demands are not new. They are promises made by the government itself. It is unacceptable that since 2017, the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement has remained stalled,” Dr. Piwuna stated.
The union listed nine unresolved issues, chief among them being the withheld salaries from the 2022 strike and unpaid entitlements linked to the controversial Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
Dr. Piwuna condemned the delay in disbursing revitalisation funds and earned academic allowances, stressing that such negligence continues to erode staff morale and undermine the educational sector.
He also criticised the government’s failure to fulfil its pledge of injecting ₦150 billion into Nigerian universities and adjusting irregular allowances by 2026, saying, “These promises are empty if they are not matched with action.”
The ASUU leader decried the situation in some state-owned institutions, including Kogi State University and Lagos State University, where members reportedly face victimisation, salary denial, and job insecurity.
“Universities are not supposed to be grounds for political manipulation or economic exploitation,” Dr. Piwuna warned. “We are witnessing increasing political interference in the selection of university leadership, particularly at institutions like Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the University of Abuja.”
He emphasized the urgent need for a national education summit focused on critical issues such as university funding, institutional autonomy, and staff welfare. According to him, “Education empowers citizens, drives innovation, and instils national values. Without it, true development is impossible.”
While reaffirming ASUU’s readiness for constructive dialogue, Dr. Piwuna maintained that the union would no longer accept the continuous erosion of its members’ rights.
“We are open to dialogue but will not fold our arms while public universities collapse under the weight of broken promises. Our universities must become hubs for national solutions, not victims of systemic failure,” he said.
ASUU urged patriotic Nigerians and the international community to support its efforts in advocating for a better university system, one capable of driving Nigeria’s transformation and prosperity.