The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a strong statement warning the Federal and State Governments to take urgent and concrete steps to address the persistent challenges in Nigeria’s public universities or risk plunging the sector into yet another industrial crisis. In a press release signed by its President, Christopher Piwuna, on August 8, 2025, the union expressed disappointment over the government’s continued failure to honour agreements and adequately address lecturers’ welfare and working conditions.
According to ASUU, recent remarks by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, claiming that strikes by lecturers and other tertiary institution unions would “never again” occur in Nigeria, are overly optimistic without corresponding actions. While the union acknowledges that dialogue and cordial relationships are important, it insists that the government must translate its promises into tangible solutions to prevent a recurrence of industrial disputes.
The statement paints a grim picture of the state of Nigerian lecturers, who, according to ASUU, are working under severe personal and professional hardships. Reports from campuses nationwide show that many teach on empty stomachs, research in poorly equipped libraries and laboratories, and grapple with financial instability. Despite these conditions, the elite continue to criticise universities for producing “unemployable graduates” and for failing to drive innovative research, leaving lecturers feeling both forgotten and shamed by successive governments.
ASUU stressed that a disempowered and demoralised academic workforce poses grave risks to the nation’s educational and developmental aspirations. The union reminded the government of its obligations under the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions No. 98 of 1949 and No. 154 of 1981, which emphasise respect for collective bargaining. ASUU expressed frustration over the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement, despite having submitted a draft since December 2024.
The union pointed out that every major dispute it has had with the government since 2012 stems from the failure to fully implement the provisions of the 2009 Agreement. These provisions cover critical areas such as conditions of service, adequate funding, university autonomy, academic freedom, and necessary legislative reforms. Successive administrations have, according to ASUU, cherry-picked aspects to implement, leaving the core welfare and professional needs of lecturers unaddressed.
A major source of discontent, ASUU noted, is the government’s attempt to attract academics abroad through initiatives like the “Diaspora Bridge” while neglecting to resolve the foundational issues plaguing lecturers at home. The union described this as hypocritical, arguing that without proper funding, conducive working environments, and competitive remuneration, such initiatives would fail to yield meaningful results.
In its statement, ASUU accused the government of employing deceptive and frustrating tactics, including withholding salaries, introducing corruption-prone systems like the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and failing to pay promotion arrears for years. These actions, the union argued, show a disregard for intellectual capital and undermine efforts to build a knowledge-based economy.
ASUU also raised concerns over the increasing politicisation of Vice-Chancellor appointments. It cited the controversial attempt to reinstate the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education despite allegations of questionable promotions. The union warned that similar cases are emerging in other federal universities, threatening academic integrity and institutional stability.
The union called on all Nigerians to join in demanding immediate resolution of outstanding labour issues in the university system. It lamented that academics are weary of the endless cycle of signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Action (MoAs) in 2013, 2017, 2019, and 2020, without meaningful progress.
ASUU emphasised that the only way to avert another industrial crisis is through a proper Collective Bargaining Agreement that addresses all aspects of lecturers’ welfare, working conditions, and the broader university environment. Anything short of this, it warned, would be a repeat of the past, with devastating consequences for the education sector.
The statement further criticised the government’s piecemeal approach to implementing agreements, arguing that such tactics only deepen distrust between the parties. It urged both federal and state governments to demonstrate sincerity by making the welfare of university staff a priority and by taking decisive action to restore trust.
ASUU’s warning comes at a time when Nigerian universities are grappling with dwindling funding, brain drain, and global competitiveness challenges. The union insisted that without a well-motivated and adequately supported academic workforce, the dream of transforming Nigeria into a knowledge-driven economy will remain unattainable.
The press release also highlighted the moral responsibility of political leaders to invest in the future of the nation by valuing and empowering its educators. ASUU reiterated that university lecturers are not asking for privileges but for fair compensation, conducive working environments, and academic freedom to conduct impactful research.
In its concluding remarks, ASUU reminded the public and the government that the current situation is unsustainable. The union called for an urgent shift from rhetoric to action, stating unequivocally that “the time to act is now” if Nigeria is to avoid another crippling disruption in its university system.
With the clock ticking, the onus now lies on the Federal and State Governments to heed the union’s call and demonstrate the political will to resolve these lingering issues once and for all before the next academic calendar is overshadowed by another wave of industrial action.
