The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed strong concerns over what it describes as the politicisation of vice-chancellor (VC) selection processes in Nigerian universities, warning that the trend is undermining merit and eroding the nation’s academic standards. The union particularly referenced recent developments at Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, as an example of this troubling practice.
In a statement signed by ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, the union lamented that Nigerian universities, which should be centres of merit-based scholarship, are being reduced to political bargaining chips for politicians and contractors. “Universities that are built on merit and scholarship have been turned into commodities for politicians and contractors in the appointment of Vice Chancellors,” Piwuna stated.
The statement condemned attempts to reinstate the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, despite what it described as “clear evidence” of irregularities in her promotion to the ranks of Reader and Professor. According to ASUU, similar cases of questionable appointments are unfolding in other federal universities across the country, threatening the credibility of the system.
Beyond the appointment process, ASUU raised alarms about the dire welfare conditions of lecturers in public universities. The union noted that many academics teach on empty stomachs, conduct research in poorly equipped laboratories, and work in libraries lacking essential books, journals, and digital resources. Such conditions, it argued, make it impossible for the institutions to deliver world-class education.
The statement painted a grim picture of the daily struggles of lecturers, who, despite engaging with communities and research projects, often do so using rickety vehicles while grappling with unpaid bills, school fees, rent, and other pressing family needs. ASUU argued that it is unjust for elites to blame universities for producing “unemployable graduates” when the academic environment is deprived.
The union warned that both federal and state governments are breeding a “disempowered, dissatisfied, and disorientated intellectual workforce” by neglecting the welfare of lecturers and failing to provide adequate funding for universities. It urged authorities to respect the principles of collective bargaining as enshrined in the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention No. 98 of 1949 and Convention No. 154 of 1981.
ASUU criticised the “flip-flop” approach of successive governments towards honouring agreements, describing it as a major source of distrust between the union and the authorities. It noted that the failure to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, despite the submission of a draft by the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed committee in December 2024, is a clear example of governmental insincerity.
The union recalled that every major dispute it has had with the government since 2012 stems from the refusal to honour the provisions of the 2009 agreement. These include agreements on conditions of service, university funding, autonomy, academic freedom, and the review of laws governing the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
ASUU emphasised that no amount of memoranda or discussion can substitute for a binding Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that fully addresses staff welfare and creates the conditions necessary for productive academic work. It stated that without such agreements, the cycle of strikes and industrial unrest will persist.
The union urged Nigerians to pressure both federal and state governments to resolve all outstanding labour issues in the university system to avoid another crippling strike. It stressed that government excuses have resulted in nothing more than a pile of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Action (MoAs) signed in 2013, 2017, 2019, and 2020, with little to no implementation.
ASUU insisted that the time for action is now, warning that continued neglect of these pressing issues will have dire consequences for the quality of education in Nigeria. The union argued that genuine reforms must prioritise merit-based leadership, adequate funding, and improved staff welfare.
It further cautioned that politicising leadership appointments risks eroding academic freedom and creating leadership crises that will distract from teaching, research, and community service. The politicisation, according to ASUU, is already creating factionalism and disillusionment among staff and students alike.
The union maintained that a transparent and merit-driven VC selection process is non-negotiable if Nigerian universities are to compete globally. It also called for reforms in governing councils to shield them from political interference and ensure that appointments are based on competence and integrity.
ASUU concluded its statement with a clear message to the government: honour agreements, respect collective bargaining, and treat universities as national assets rather than political commodities. It stressed that without urgent intervention, the country risks losing both its brightest academic minds and its credibility in the global academic community.
In its final warning, the union reminded policymakers that the future of Nigeria’s development is tied to the quality of its universities. Any further deterioration, ASUU warned, would only deepen the nation’s educational crisis and hinder its long-term growth.
