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Tag: ASUU

  • FG has not met our main demand: ASUU tells Nigerians

    FG has not met our main demand: ASUU tells Nigerians

    …warns that full-blown strike may be inevitable

    The Ibadan Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Friday warned that a full-scale strike may be imminent, citing what it described as the federal government’s discourteous and lackadaisical handling of the ongoing industrial dispute.

    Addressing journalists at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, the zonal coordinator, Professor Biodun Olaniran, accused government officials of misleading the public with false claims while frustrating efforts to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement.

    According to ASUU, the Union’s core demand is the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement—currently being handled by the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed-led committee—to produce a new salary structure that will replace the Consolidated University Salary Scale (CONUASS), which has been eroded by persistent inflation.

    ASUU had declared a two-week warning strike on October 13, 2025, but suspended it five days before expiration following what it considered genuine interventions from students, parents, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the media, and other stakeholders. The Union then allowed a one-month window, aligning with the NLC’s ultimatum to the government to conclude the renegotiation and address all outstanding issues.

    The Ibadan Zone comprises the University of Ibadan; University of Ilorin, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso; Osun State University, Osogbo, Kwara State University, Malete, and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo. Professor Olaniran was joined at the press conference by the respective branch chairpersons: Adefemi Afolabi (UI), Alex Akanmu (UNILORIN), Ben Olujimi Dada (LAUTECH), Olaosebikan Wende (UNIOSUN), Shehu Abdulganiyu Salau (KWASU), and Michael Bamidele Ojo (EAUED).

    Olaniran criticised the Federal Government’s approach, saying, “ASUU had expected that a government committed to national development, technological innovation, and advancement would work within the deadline by giving a marching order to its agents; unfortunately, the Federal Government has been engaging with the Union without the seriousness these issues deserve.”

    READ ALSO: NIIA, Korean Embassy seek deeper economic cooperation between Nigeria, Korea

    “Regrettably, just about eight days to the expiration of the one-month window, nothing significant has been done other than the usual misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda.”

    ASUU, while acknowledging “the release of part of the four-year promotion arrears, third-party deductions such as union dues, cooperative and pension deductions being flaunted by the government, however, maintained that these should not be misconstrued by Nigerians as having resolved the demands of ASUU.

    The Union boss disclosed that, “The just concluded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of ASUU held at Taraba State University, Jalingo on Saturday, 8th and Sunday, 9th November 2025 clinically X-rayed the state of our engagements with the Federal Government and Visitors to state universities.

    “The current state of insecurity and excruciating economic situation in the country and its negative impacts on the welfare of the members of our ASUU call for great concern by all stakeholders in the educational sector.

    “The role being played by government functionaries in the process of renegotiating the Agreement with the Union is negatively worrisome, to say the least.

    “Unless the Federal Government holds the bull by the horns, by offering a competitive salary structure within the remaining timeline, our students in the public universities across the nation may have their academic calendars disrupted, once again.

    “ASUU, Ibadan Zone, therefore, identifies the urgent need to prevail on governments to avert this looming crisis.

    “The counter offers made by the Government through the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed-led Committee have been firmly rejected by our Union because it is inappropriate and unacceptable to make such ridiculous offers to academics who have been taking the same salaries for sixteen years.

    “This falls below what many West African countries pay their academics, while Nigerian politicians are the highest paid political office holders in Africa, if not globally. What is lacking is the political will and not the resources to fund qualitative education in Nigeria.”

    Professor Olaniran stated that the three-and-a-half months’ salaries of our members in federal universities, held on account of the federal government that provoked the strike of our union in 2022, are still being withheld by the government.

    “Many State Universities are yet to pay the withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA). For the avoidance of doubt, the Osun State University is yet to release the withheld salaries of the members of the Union from 2018 and 2020, and the arrears of the reduced 2015-2019 EAA.

    “The story is the same at LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, where EAA and promotion arrears are still outstanding, KWASU has not benefited from EAA, and, like some other state universities in the country.

    “Our Union strongly frowns at this indifferent, anti-progress, anti-labour, and inhumane act. We, therefore, demand the unconditional payment of all withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and outstanding EAA to the academic members of staff of universities who are members of ASUU.”

  • ASUU urges Fed Govt to conclude talks on demands

    ASUU urges Fed Govt to conclude talks on demands

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urgwd the Federal Government to conclude negotiations on the union’s demands.

    ASUU expressed concern about the government’s alleged back-and-forth approach to negotiations with the union’s officials.

    It warned that continued indecision could have serious consequences on the education sector.

    ASUU announced its position in a statement by its President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, during the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Taraba State University, Jalingo.

    During the meeting, the union’s members spoke on the latest offers from the government’s negotiating team.

    The university teachers’ union urged the Federal Government to honour its agreements or face another nationwide strike.

    At an emergency NEC meeting on October 21, the union had suspended a warning strike, despite describing government offers as grossly insufficient.

    The decision to suspend the strike was made to allow further engagement and in recognition of the support from students, parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and other well-meaning Nigerians.

    ASUU said it gave the government a one-month window to conclude further renegotiations in good faith.

    But two weeks into the suspension, the NEC reviewed the progress made and rejected the proposed salary increment as inadequate to reverse the long-standing brain drain in the nation’s universities.

    While some non-monetary aspects of the agreement have seen progress, ASUU noted that salary and conditions of service remained critical issues that required urgent attention.

    Read Also: Fed Govt closes skills gap with talent initiative

    “We, therefore, hope that our expectations and indeed the expectations of Nigerians for a quick and holistic resolution are not dashed.

    “ASUU criticises government officials for undermining the negotiation process through misrepresentation and selective implementation of agreements. The partial payment of promotion arrears, dating back to 2017, and the release of third-party deductions were described as confidence-boosting exercises rather than solutions to the core issues.

    “The union warns that presenting these measures as major progress misrepresents reality and threatens the integrity of the negotiation process,” the statement said.

    The NEC urged the government to use the remaining days of the one-month window wisely to achieve a holistic resolution, particularly to improve the living conditions of academics.

    “This is not too much to ask,” the union said.

    It stressed that contrary to the government’s claims of economic hardship, federal and state revenues have grown substantially in recent years.

    Data from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, ASUU said, showed state revenues rising from N3.92 trillion in 2022 to N5.81 trillion in 2024, while federal revenues increased from N3.42 trillion to N4.65 trillion over the same period.

    The union insisted that the government’s problem is lack of political will, not insufficient funds.

    It urged traditional rulers, community leaders, students, the NLC, and the civil society to prevail on the government to give lecturers a living wage.

    ASUU’s seven demands include: re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of universities, an end to the alleged victimisation of ASUU members in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) and FUTO, payment of outstanding 25 to 35 per cent salary arrears, settlement of promotion arrears spanning over four years, and remittance of outstanding third-party deductions.

  • Prioritise education or risk the nation’s future, ASUU warns FG

    Prioritise education or risk the nation’s future, ASUU warns FG

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the federal government to embrace dialogue and make education its top priority.

    The Union warned that continued neglect in education would harm the country’s future, adding that the only way to protect the country’s future is through investment in education.

    The statement was made at its National Executive Council meeting in Jalingo.

    READ ALSO; FG pays N18bn insurance to boost troops’ welfare

    ASUU stressed that the one-month window it gave the government to renegotiate earlier dialogues must be utilised to “quickly resolve all the issues, to keep our children in school.”

    The union accused some officials of sabotaging negotiations. It also described fragmented payments and partial steps as pointless, while adding that the problem is not a lack of money but a lack of political will.

    It appealed to students, traditional rulers, labour and civil society to press the government to give lecturers a living wage to enable universities to function properly.

    “These gestures, at best, are confidence-boosting exercises and must not be framed as substantial issues of the negotiation process. The government’s objective must not be to win the narrative but to solve the problems,” the communique said.

    Pointing to Federation Accounts Allocation Committee figures, the union noted that federal revenue rose from ₦3.42 trillion in 2022 to ₦4.65 trillion in 2024, and state allocations grew from ₦3.92 trillion to ₦5.81 trillion over the same period.

    However, the federal government has urged ASUU to suspend any strike plans and continue talks, highlighting the need to protect students’ academic calendars while negotiations continue.

    FG also warned that the “no work, no pay” rule remains on the table if campuses shut down.

  • ASUU urges Fed govt to conclude talks on demands

    ASUU urges Fed govt to conclude talks on demands

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked the federal government to conclude negotiations on its demands.

    The union said it was concerned with the government’s back-and-forth approach to negotiations, warning that continued indecision could have serious consequences.

    The union’s position was made known in a statement signed by its President, Christopher Piwuna, during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Taraba State University, Jalingo, where members were briefed on the latest offers from the government’s negotiating team.

    The union, during the meeting, urged the federal government to honour its agreements with university lecturers or face another nationwide strike.

    It would be recalled that at an emergency NEC meeting on 21 October 2025, the union had suspended a warning strike despite describing government offers as grossly insufficient.

    READ ALSO; FG pays N18bn insurance to boost troops’ welfare

    The decision to suspend the strike was made to allow further engagement and in recognition of support from students, parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and other well-meaning Nigerians.

    A one-month window was granted to the government to conclude renegotiations in good faith.

    However, two weeks into the suspension, the NEC reviewed progress and rejected the proposed salary increment as inadequate to reverse the long-standing brain drain in the nation’s universities.

    While some non-monetary aspects of the agreement have seen progress, ASUU noted that salary and conditions of service remain critical issues requiring urgent attention.

    “We therefore hope that our expectations and indeed the expectations of Nigerians for a quick and holistic resolution are not dashed.

    “ASUU criticised government officials for undermining the negotiation process through misrepresentation and selective implementation of agreements. The partial payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2017, and the release of third-party deductions, were described as confidence-boosting exercises rather than solutions to the core issues.

    “The union warned that presenting these measures as major progress misrepresents reality and threatens the integrity of the negotiation process,” the statement said.

    The NEC emphasised that the remaining days of the one-month window must be used wisely to achieve a holistic resolution, particularly to improve the living conditions of academics.

    “This is not too much to ask,” the union said.

    The union also highlighted that, contrary to government claims of economic hardship, federal and state revenues have grown substantially in recent years.

    Data from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, it said, showed state revenues rising from N3.92 trillion in 2022 to N5.81 trillion in 2024, while federal revenues increased from N3.42 trillion to N4.65 trillion over the same period. ASUU insisted that the problem is a lack of political will, not insufficient funds.

    ASUU called on traditional rulers, community leaders, students, the NLC, and civil society to continue impressing on the government to act responsibly and provide lecturers with a living wage.

    The seven demands by ASUU include: re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of universities, an end to the alleged victimisation of ASUU members in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) and FUTO, payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, settlement of promotion arrears spanning over four years, and remittance of outstanding third-party deductions.

  • FG faults ASUU’s rejection of TISSF, insists scheme supports welfare

    FG faults ASUU’s rejection of TISSF, insists scheme supports welfare

    The Federal government has countered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over its rejection of the newly introduced Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), insisting that the initiative is designed to enhance the welfare and productivity of both academic and non-academic staff in tertiary institutions across the country.

    ASUU had described the TISSF as a “debt trap,” urging the government to instead use the funds to offset withheld salaries and sign the re-negotiated agreement with the union.

    However, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, while speaking during the disbursement of ceremonial cheques and letters of approval to beneficiaries at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), in Ondo State, said the fund was conceived as part of government’s broader strategy to strengthen staff welfare, institutional productivity, and innovation.

    “I want to be clear with our academic union. Some ASUU members said, ‘Oh, don’t give us TISSF; that’s not what we want.’ No. This is support. This is a layer of support in addition to other welfare initiatives we are pursuing to improve the condition of our tertiary institution staff,” Alausa stated.

    According to him, over 9,000 staff have benefited in the first phase of the interest-free loan scheme, representing 28 percent of 33,000 verified applicants drawn from 219 federal and state tertiary institutions nationwide.

    The Minister explained that the ₦10 million zero-interest loan, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is repayable over five to seven years, with a 24-month moratorium before repayment begins.

    “This money can be used for housing, transportation, healthcare, tuition, or even small business ventures. It’s a flexible support system to help staff improve their standard of living,” he said.

    He also disclosed that the disbursement covered academic and non-academic staff in a 30:70 ratio, reflecting the government’s inclusive approach.

     Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmed described the TISSF as a “visionary initiative” that demonstrates government’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s tertiary education system.

    “Without motivated staff, learning becomes difficult. Lecturers, researchers, technologists, and administrators are the backbone of our institutions. Let’s make TISSF a sustainable and impactful mechanism that truly uplifts them,” she said.

    Read Also: Beyond the ASUU strike

    Prof. Ahmed commended the Bank of Industry and other partners for their collaboration in designing and supporting the fund, assuring that transparency and accountability would be maintained in its administration.

    In her remarks, Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Prof. Adenike Temidayo Oladiji described the visit of both ministers as “historic,” noting that it was the first time two serving education ministers would visit the institution simultaneously.

    She commended Alausa for key policy reforms benefiting universities, including the separation of research accounts from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and improved access to TETFund grants.

    The Vice Chancellor, however, appealed for sustained peace and stability in universities to prevent disruptions in academic activities caused by industrial actions.

    “Prolonged strikes destabilize the system and affect students. We hope the government will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted learning,” she said.

  • Beyond the ASUU strike

    Beyond the ASUU strike

    By Umezurike Emeka Taye

    The recent industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again thrust Nigeria’s public tertiary education system into the spotlight, reopening old wounds about the fragility of the country’s university system. For decades, ASUU strikes have become a recurrent feature of the academic calendar, disrupting teaching, research, and the academic progression of millions of students. While the latest strike reflects reoccurring disagreements between the federal government and the union, it also symbolizes deeper structural dysfunctions that have remained unresolved.

    The problems are well known to all in both government and academic circles and they include; chronic underfunding, limited institutional autonomy, refusal to pay earned academic allowances and other benefits owned, poor payment structure and remuneration as well as poor governance within the government owned universities. Moving beyond the recurring cycle of strikes requires addressing these foundational weaknesses that continue to cripple Nigeria’s public universities.

    Since ASUU’s first major industrial action in 1988, the Nigerian higher education sector has been caught in a perpetual tug-of-war between university unions and government authorities. The grievances are largely the same: poor remuneration, inadequate infrastructure, unfulfilled government agreements, and declining funding for research and development. Each round of negotiations produces temporary resolutions and relief, only for the same issues to resurface a few years later. This cyclical conflict underscores a deeper systemic failure which is an absence of long-term commitment and will on the part of all stakeholders to commit to the structural reform of higher education in Nigeria.

    The 2025 ASUU strike, like those before it, is less about the strike itself and more about what it represents: a collapsing model of higher education management. The inability to stabilize university operations has resulted in prolonged academic sessions, eroded global competitiveness, and contributed to an ever-growing wave of brain drain. Nigeria’s public universities, once the pride of Africa in the 1970s and early 1980s, now struggle with dilapidated infrastructure, underpaid staff, and a generation of students losing faith in the public education system.

    At the heart of Nigeria’s university crisis is chronic underfunding. Despite repeated advocacy from education stakeholders, Nigeria’s annual budgetary allocation to education has rarely exceeded 8% a far cry from the UNESCO-recommended 26%. This persistent shortfall affects every facet of university life: laboratory equipment remains obsolete, libraries lack current materials, and facilities deteriorate faster than they are repaired. The fact that we refuse to understand that our society cannot out develop the level of our academic competence and output is a serious problem. It is not coincidental that the best countries have the best educational system as time and time again, a direct correlation and relationship has been seen to exist between quality of tertiary education and the development of societies.

    Public universities rely heavily on government subventions, with minimal internally generated revenue. This dependence makes them vulnerable to budgetary fluctuations and political interference. Moreover, the introduction of “no work, no pay” policies during strikes further deepens financial uncertainty and resentment for the government by academic staff. In contrast, successful higher education systems globally such as those in South Africa, Malaysia, or anywhere in Europe and the Americas are sustained by a balanced healthy mix of public funding, research grants, endowments, alumni contributions and public-private partnerships.

    To reverse this decline, stakeholders must come to a roundtable and discuss the options and begin to find solutions backed by Acts and laws of the National Assembly, duly assented to by the president. Nigeria must prioritize ring-fenced funding mechanisms that ensure stable and predictable financing for tertiary education. This could involve establishing an Education Stabilization Fund that cannot be diverted for non-educational purposes, supported by legislation to guarantee multi-year funding cycles.

    Additionally, universities should be empowered to attract external grants, partnerships, and alumni investments through transparent financial management systems. Alumni associations should also be strengthened and better structured to give back to their Alma Mata periodically in a way that is sustainable and drives development. Quality education cannot thrive on goodwill alone and the government for all its good intention cannot and does not have the resources to do it all alone. In other to change things around there is need for a sustained and accountable investment in all facets of tertiary education.

    Equally critical to reform is institutional autonomy. Nigerian universities operate under heavy bureaucratic control, with the federal government often determining salaries, recruitment, admissions policies, and even leadership appointments. This centralized control stifles innovation, efficiency, and responsiveness to local and global academic trends. Universities are expected to produce world-class graduates while functioning within administrative frameworks that limit flexibility and initiative. This is paradoxical and the results of this methods have been abysmal. 

    Autonomy is not merely about freedom from government interference; it is about granting universities the authority to make academic, financial, and administrative decisions that reflect their unique missions. For instance, universities should have the power to design market-relevant programs, manage their budgets, recruit according to need without or with very reduced political interference and set competitive conditions of service within national guidelines. When institutions have the ability to innovate, they can more effectively collaborate with industries, attract research funding, and respond to changing societal needs.

    However, autonomy must go hand-in-hand with accountability. There must be proper oversight mechanisms, as financial or academic independence without control or regulation could lead to inefficiency and corruption. The solution lies in a shared governance model where university councils, senates, and external stakeholders play clearly defined roles in ensuring transparency while preserving institutional freedom. The introduction of performance-based funding, where universities are rewarded for measurable outcomes such as research output, student success, and community engagement, can also strengthen both autonomy and accountability. There also must be periodic auditing of all university accounts by independent bodies set up by the government and reports be reviewed. In the event of misappropriation of funds, appropriate sanction should be meted out and culprits should actually see and be kept within the four walls of a prison for such acts to serve as a deterrent.

    Poor governance has long undermined the effectiveness of Nigerian public universities. Political interference in the appointment of vice-chancellors, opaque procurement and recruitment processes, and weak internal management structures have eroded institutional integrity. In some universities, decision-making is mired in internal politics, nepotism and patronage rather than merit or data-driven planning. The result is a leadership culture that prioritizes short-term survival and their ability to continue to stay in office over strategic development.

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    Effective governance in higher education demands visionary leadership, data-informed planning, and a strong culture of integrity. The federal government and university governing councils must establish transparent and merit-based processes for leadership recruitment. Similarly, internal management structures should prioritize evidence-based decision-making, fiscal responsibility, and participatory administration.

    The creation of independent regulatory bodies separate from direct government ministries could enhance oversight without micromanagement. For example, the National Universities Commission (NUC) should evolve from being a compliance monitor to a true quality-assurance and capacity-building agency, fostering innovation and supporting institutional growth across the country. NUC should function more as a partner for capacity building and resource allocation and sharing (especially academic and human capital resource) rather than just for accreditation and setting up of universities.

    To end the recurring cycle of ASUU strikes and restore stability to Nigeria’s university system, the country must adopt a comprehensive and sustainable reform agenda built on three fundamental pillars of consistent funding, genuine institutional autonomy, and transparent governance. In the short term, ASUU must also adopt a more strategic and proactive approach in its engagement with the government. ASUU must find was to sponsor bills through the senate for legally binding framework, backed by an Act of the National Assembly and duly assented to by the president that enforces the implementation of all agreements such as earned allowances and other negotiated benefits between ASUU and the government. This would prevent the repeated pattern of new administrations disowning previously signed agreements.

    Additionally, immediate infrastructural renewal is essential, supported by targeted intervention funds to upgrade learning and research facilities. Research and postgraduate training should receive increased funding and incentives from TETFund, as well as through private-sector and international partnerships, to reduce the ongoing brain drain and foster innovation within the country’s universities.

    In the long term, Nigeria’s higher education system needs a restructured financing model that blends sustained public funding such as through NELFUND with private investment and international collaborations. Universities should be granted greater managerial autonomy to innovate, compete, and tailor their operations to global best practices. The National Universities Commission (NUC) must also be strengthened to function not just as a regulator, but as a supportive partner that enhances institutional capacity and promotes quality assurance. Transparency and accountability should be institutionalized through annual public reporting of university finances, performance indicators, and outcomes.

    •Taye (PhD) writes in from Lead City University Ibadan.

  • Gently, gently ASUU

    Gently, gently ASUU

    •Going on strike only reflects ill-will and lack of imagination

    It should cheer the hearts of all those who love education to hear the news that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have called off their warning strike. The strike, characterised as “no work, no pay,” was going to get another deleterious fillip from the Ajaero-led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that was already mobilizing its troops for a solidarity strike.

    The strike was gratuitous, and only reveals a militancy directed to a wrong cause. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has said that they had advanced the position of the government in a counteroffer on the issue of condition of service and welfare of ASUU members, and that the president, Professor Chris Piwuna, had not responded before they undertook the strike.

    This smacks of blackmail. If they had come with a counteroffer to the government’s counteroffer, and that had been rejected, it might have been a reason for unease. Even at that, it was no excuse for undertaking a strike action. It only exposes a lack of good faith on the path of the university representatives.

    This must also be seen against the backdrop of some of the requests already addressed by the Federal Government. The minister announced that the Federal Government had already paid N50 billion of the earned academic allowances, and had conceded for the post-graduate supervision allowances to be paid through the institutions.

    He disclosed that out of the N150 billion NEEDS assessment fund that was appropriated in the 2025 budget, N50 billion had already been disbursed. The balance would be paid in tranches.

    He announced that promotion allowances will be paid in 2026. On the 25/35 wage award, the minister said all public servants had yet to receive theirs and the government has billed the payments for next year.

    It seems, from the foregoing, that the sore point is the condition of service and welfare. That is a very important aspect of any negotiation, but the ASUU has not denied the claims of the minister with regards to all the disbursements and concessions.

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    On the issue of payment for the eight months of strike, ASUU’s relationship with president Bola Tinubu dates back to when he was a candidate for the president assignment. He met with them and resolved that they should negotiate with Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, as he then was, and they reportedly agreed that the government would pay 50 percent of the arrears. And that sum has been reportedly paid.

    Why would they undertake a strike after all these concessions? It was reported that it was because the chairman of the negotiation committee, Ali Ahmed, had gone on leave for hajj, and that would be for three weeks and that included some family matters.

    Was ASUU aware of this? Or did ASUU see it as an excuse to dodge? Was there a lack of proper communication between the minister and his team with the ASUU men? The minister said he communicated Ahmed’s itinerary to the ASUU team.

    If ASUU did not believe him, was it worth going on strike? If they went on strike for that reason, they should have said so in public. But they gave the impression that their demands were not being met when they had not even responded to the government’s counteroffer. They should at least show candour and accept what they have received. Unless they want to convey the impression that the only important thing to them is their welfare but not the health of tertiary education.

    The idea of deploying strikes as the only way to demonstrate disagreement with government reflects a lack of imagination among the nation’s elite in the field of imagination. It has become not only a measure of blackmail but an absence of empathy with their students who stand to lose time.

    As D.H. Thoreau once said, “You can’t kill time without injuring eternity.” We know how much injury education and the country has suffered from past strikes.



  • ASUU suspends warning strike

    ASUU suspends warning strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike for one month.

    It said the suspension was meant to allow further negotiation with the Federal Government following the intervention of stakeholders.

    ASUU President Christopher Piwuna announced the suspension of the strike yesterday at the union’s national secretariat at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

    He stated that the suspension followed the progress made in the talks with government officials regarding the union’s outstanding issues.

    The ASUU president said the union received the Federal Government’s offer through the Yayale Ahmed-led FGN Renegotiation Team.

    Piwuna announced that the offer was presented to members and deliberated upon at the NEC meeting, which started on Tuesday and progressed till  4 a.m. yesterday.

    Piwuna said some progress has been made on the issues but said union members unanimously rejected the 35 per cent salary increment component of the draft agreement.

    The ASUU president said although the offer represented a shift from the government’s previous position, it fell short of the union’s expectations after about eight years of its face-off with the government over unmet demands.

    He said the union recognised the government’s commitment to addressing the outstanding issues, as the offer was made with timelines.

    According to him, the union believes that the offer was made with the knowledge of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and urged the President to ensure that the right steps are taken before the expiration of the one-month window.

    He said: “When we gathered here about 10 days ago to painfully declare a warning strike, it was a decision that left us with no other choice. This was because the government would not respond to several overtures urging it to address the lingering renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and other issues affecting the welfare of our members and the repositioning of Nigerian public universities to enable them to deliver on their mandate.

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    “As responsible citizens, we were and are still convinced that it was the most expedient thing to do in order to save our university system from imminent collapse — a cause we have championed for more than three decades.

    “As you are aware, the Federal Government responded to our declaration of a warning strike with threats of salary denial and directives to vice chancellors on ways to make the union’s action ineffectual.

    “However, we can report that ASUU has had useful engagements with representatives and agents of government in the last one week.

    “The ASUU team met on Thursday, October 16, and Saturday, October 18, 2025, respectively, with the Yayale Ahmed-led FGN Team to consider the government’s response to the Draft Renegotiated 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement. Another date was also fixed for the next round of deliberations by the two teams at the last meeting.

    “We certainly have not achieved the twin objective of concluding the renegotiation, which started way back in 2017, and fully addressing other lingering issues.

    “However, we are definitely not where we were prior to and at the commencement of the strike. This poignantly shows that had the government positively responded to the union’s earlier notices and appeals, there would have been no need for the strike in the first place.”

    Piwuna applauded the intervention of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and members of the National Assembly.

    The ASUU president said the union must acknowledge the swift intervention of the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, and Labour, led by their chairmen.

    He said: “The union’s engagements with the two committees on Friday, October 19, 2025, and a follow-up meeting with the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, the same day, appeared promising in amicably resolving all the outstanding issues.

    “Our members place a lot of hope on the strong promises made by these distinguished Senators. We look forward to working with them to fully deliver on their promises.

    “The union acknowledges that the government has returned to the negotiating table — a feat that was impossible for almost one year. All issues related to this development have been faithfully reported to ASUU members nationwide and were comprehensively interrogated at an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of our union held on October 21 and 22.

    “While noting that much more work is still required, NEC came to the conclusion that the objective of the warning strike had been partly achieved.

    “Hence, it was decided that the ongoing strike be reviewed to allow for a conducive atmosphere for further engagements between the two parties. The decision to review the action was borne out of respect for our students and their parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and other well-meaning Nigerians who have mediated over the last ten days and have continued to do so.

    “We owe them a great debt of gratitude for their understanding, resilience, and demonstration of solidarity.

    “Consequently, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to reciprocate the overwhelming support of Nigerians. In addition, NEC resolved that a one-month window should be given to the government to conclude the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and fully address other outstanding issues.

    “NEC hopes that the government will take advantage of this opportunity to timeously resolve all the issues to guarantee industrial harmony and ensure stability in our academic calendar, as it has always promised.

    “In summary, the emergency NEC meeting resolved that: the warning strike is hereby suspended with effect from midnight, Wednesday, October 22, 2025; should the government fail to resolve the issues within the one-month window, ASUU reserves the right to resume strike action without further notice; and ASUU appeals to patriotic Nigerians and stakeholders in education to prevail upon the government to speedily conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and other outstanding issues.”

    The union declared a two-week warning strike on October 12 to press home its demands.

    Piwuna said the union would not have embarked on the strike if the Federal Government had responded to its demands.

    Piwuna listed ASUU’s seven demands as the re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of universities, an end to the alleged victimisation of ASUU members in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) and FUTO, payment of outstanding 25–35 per cent salary arrears, settlement of promotion arrears spanning over four years, and remittance of outstanding third-party deductions.

  • Is ASUU’s warning strike suspension a conclusive step?

    Is ASUU’s warning strike suspension a conclusive step?

    When members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on what it termed “a warning strike”, on October 13, it came as a rude shock of sorts to the Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who had consistently prioritised dialogue and negotiation with the union. But, ASUU accused the Federal Government of foot-dragging on the contentious 2009 Agreement, outstanding salary arrears, withheld promotions and the welfare of retired lecturers, among others. It also said the ‘warning strike’ might snowball into an indefinite one, thus resurrecting the endless cycle of disruption that once defined the nation’s public university system. Surprisingly yesterday, the union suspended its two-week warning strike, following a resolution by its National Executive Council (NEC), BOLA OLAJUWON and DAMOLA KOLA-DARE report.

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday suspended its two-week warning strike, following a resolution by its National Executive Council (NEC). Its National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the suspension yesterday during a media briefing in Abuja.

    Piwuna explained that the decision followed an extensive NEC meeting that began Tuesday night and ended around 4:00 a.m. yesterday.

    According to him, the union’s leadership considered constructive engagements with government officials as a positive step. The union’s president, however, asserted that several critical issues remained unresolved on their demands.

    “We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government regarding the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. While progress has been made, we are not yet where we ought to be.”

    The NEC, Piwuna asserted, decided to suspend the strike as a gesture of goodwill in recognition of appeals from students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other concerned Nigerians who intervened.

    “The union acknowledged that the government had returned to the negotiation table. While noting that more work still needed to be done, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to reciprocate the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians,” he said.

    The two-week warning strike, which began on October 13, was declared over the government’s alleged failure to meet several longstanding demands.

    ASUU and strikes suspension

    However, it was not the first time ASUU had ended a strike early. The union had suspended strikes on previous occasions to engage in further talks with the Federal Government. The decision to suspend the two-week warning strike followed a pattern of using the suspension as a gesture of goodwill to give the government a window for negotiation.

    In 2009, the union suspended an indefinite strike after about three months to sign a memorandum of understanding with the government. In 2008, it suspended two separate one-week warning strikes aimed at pressuring the government on their demands.

    In 2006 and 2005, the union also conducted very short strikes, lasting only a week and three days, respectively.

    Meanwhile, the reasons for suspending a strike before the union’s full demands are met often involve a mix of legal pressure, public sympathy, and a willingness to return to the bargaining table.

     The most recent suspension was intended to “reciprocate the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians” and to give the government a one-month deadline to resolve outstanding issues. However, the union has a history of reviving industrial action if the government fails to follow through on its commitments.

    The issues at stake

    The union reverted to type when it announced the commencement of the two-week warning strike across universities nationwide. Not many observers were surprised, the signs were already there when lecturers embarked on peaceful protests across campuses in August over what they termed the Federal Government’s failure to accede to their demands for better welfare and improved funding of the education sector.

    The protests, which grounded academic activities, were meant to serve as a strike notice to the Federal Government. They wanted the government to begin implementing the demands to avert an inevitable full blown strike.

    The union’s just-declared two-week strike could be escalated if the government failed to address its  seven-point demands.

    Piwuna insisted that the strike was inevitable due to the government’s alleged insensitivity and failure to implement agreements reached with the union.

    The demands are the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, improved funding for public universities, revitalisation projects, an end to the alleged victimisation of ASUU members in certain institutions, payment of outstanding salary arrears and promotion arrears, and remittance of third-party deductions.

    ASUU’s demands also release of three and a half months of withheld salaries, sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities, and an end to the victimisation of lecturers at the Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

    The union is also demanding the payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, promotion arrears spanning over four years, and the release of withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union check-off dues.

    ASUU is also asking for a review of the governance system in universities and a halt to the proliferation of universities by federal and state governments when existing ones are underfunded.

    But, the  Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had met  with government representatives at the review panel, pledging that the government would fulfill its promises to ASUU. He  said the meeting reviewed ASUU’s proposals, line by line, which would be fine-tuned by the committee’s technical team.

    The minister said the team would submit a “clean report” that would be forwarded to the Yayale Ahmed-led Committee to renegotiate the 2009 ASUU/FG Agreement.

     “We want an agreement where every component is actionable and feasible. Nigerians can be assured that this government will keep our schools open and ensure our children remain in classrooms,” he said.

    He gave an assurance that the nationwide rally which was held in August would not lead  to  a strike because the government had engaged the union “continuously and meticulously.”

    He  said: “We are committed to solving this problem once and for all. What has lingered since the 2009 and 2021 agreements will now be addressed in a sustainable way.

    “The President has made it clear that every promise made to ASUU and Nigerians will be fulfilled truthfully and honestly.”

    He restated the government’s commitment to the resolution of the issues raised by the union, adding  that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had mandated the ministry to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

    He said the administration was not interested in “bogus or unsustainable agreements,” but in reaching a constitutional and implementable accord.

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    ‘No work, no pay’  rule activated

    Obviously displeased  by the union’s action, Alausa directed  vice chancellors to carry out physical headcounts of lecturers, who report for work to activate the ‘No work no pay’ rule.

    He added that the National Universities Commission(NUC) would monitor compliance with the directive and submit a ‘’consolidated report’’  to his ministry.

    Alausa said  in a letter to the vice chancellors that the government was disappointed with the strike following  calls for the union to embrace constructive dialogue.

    In another twist, Piwuna was defiant. He said the union was not afraid of the government stopping the salaries of its members.

    He said the decision of the government to enforce the policy showed that it has not learnt anything from previous strikes.

    He alleged that the government offered the union members a 25 per cent increase on their present salary.

    Piwuna vowed that the offer of 25 per cent salary hike will not make  ASUU members call off the strike.

    “We have tried everything, we have tried discussions, we have tried writing letters, we have had meetings, we have had behind-the-scenes discussions, we have visited traditional leaders away from the cameras, and we have visited opinion leaders away from the cameras; none has worked.

    ‘’It is only when we get to this point (strike) that the government responds, unfortunately,” he said.

    NLC, other unions step in with ‘no pay, no work’

    The  Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and affiliate unions from the education sector on Monday declared  ‘no pay, no work’, as a  response to the Federal Government’s ‘no work, no pay’.

    The NLC and  the unions also gave the government a four-week ultimatum to address outstanding renegotiations of the 2009 agreement.

    It showed  full solidarity with ASUU and other tertiary education unions, calling for robust participation from all union leaders.

    NLC President Joe Ajaero said: “We have decided to give the Federal Government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector. They have started talks with ASUU but the problem in this sector goes beyond ASUU.

    “That is why we are extending this to four weeks. If after four weeks this negotiation is not concluded, the organs of the NEC will meet and take a nationwide action that all workers in the country, all unions in the country will be involved so that we get to the root of all this.”

    It urged the government to honour collective agreements and respect the rights of workers, emphasising the ‘No Pay, No Work’ response.

    The unions include ASUU,  the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP),  Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), College of Education Staff Union (COESU),  among others.

    The unions are poised  to work together in their agitations.

    Minister: ASUU requests addressed

    Alausa also said  the government had taken concrete steps to address all pending issues affecting the lecturers.

    He said: “We have addressed every single request by ASUU; there is no need for this strike, and we are pleading with them to go back to school. “We need to keep our children in school. If there is any group of people I have met with the most since assuming office, it is ASUU.”

    The minister dismissed allegations that the Federal Government had been slow or unwilling to act on the union’s demands, insisting that several commitments had already been fulfilled.

    “The arrears of their earned academic allowance have been paid. The President swiftly approved 50 billion naira months ago. Those allowances have now been mainstreamed into their salaries, so there will never be arrears again,” the minister explained.

    He  added that the government has also resolved issues relating to postgraduate supervision allowances, which are now being paid by universities, and that funds under the Needs Assessment Scheme were being released in phases.

    “The President approved N150 billion for Needs Assessment in the 2026 budget. 50 billion naira of that has already been released, and the remaining will be paid in two more tranches. The money is already sitting in the Needs Assessment account,” Alausa said.

    On promotion arrears, he explained that the payments have been captured in the 2026 budget.

    The question on the lips of students, parents and other stakeholders with the latest development is whether the suspension of the strike will bring permanent relief to students and parents after days of academic disruption across public universities nationwide. Stakeholders are also hoping that the government would accede to all ASUU’s demands.

  • UPDATED: ASUU suspends two-week warning strike

    UPDATED: ASUU suspends two-week warning strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike for one month to allow further negotiation with the Federal Government following the intervention of stakeholders.

    ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, announced the suspension of the strike on Wednesday at ASUU’s national secretariat at the University of Abuja after an emergency National Executive Council meeting. 

    He said the suspension followed progress in talks with government officials concerning their outstanding issues. 

    The ASUU President said the union received the Federal Government’s offer through the Yayale Ahmed-led FGN Renegotiation Team, disclosing that the offer was presented to members and deliberated upon at the NEC meeting, which lasted from Tuesday into about 4 a.m. on Wednesday.

    Piwuna said progress has been made with regards to the issues but said union members unanimously rejected the 35 per cent salary increment component of the draft agreement.

    He said although the offer represented a shift from the government’s previous position, it fell short of expectations after about eight years of ASUU’s face-off with the government over unmet demands.

    Piwuna said the union recognised the government’s commitment to addressing the outstanding issues, as the offer was made with timelines.

    According to him, the union believes that the offer was made with the knowledge of President Bola Tinubu and urged the President to ensure that the right steps are taken before the expiration of the one-month window.

    He said: “When we gathered here about ten days ago to painfully declare a warning strike, it was a decision that left us with no other choice. This was because the government would not respond to several overtures urging it to address the lingering renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and other issues affecting the welfare of our members and the repositioning of Nigerian public universities to enable them to deliver on their mandate.

    “As responsible citizens, we were and are still convinced that it was the most expedient thing to do to save our university system from imminent collapse — a cause we have championed for more than three decades.

    “As you are aware, the Federal Government responded to our declaration of a warning strike with threats of salary denial and directives to Vice-Chancellors on ways to make the Union’s action ineffectual.

    “However, we can report that ASUU has had useful engagements with representatives and agents of government in the last one week.

    “The ASUU team met on Thursday, 16th, and Saturday, 18th October 2025, respectively, with the Yayale Ahmed-led FGN Team to consider the government’s response to the Draft Renegotiated 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement. Another date was also fixed for the next round of deliberations by the two teams at the last meeting.

    “We certainly have not achieved the twin objectives of concluding the renegotiation, which started way back in 2017, and fully addressing other lingering issues.

    “However, we are definitely not where we were prior to and at the commencement of the strike. This poignantly shows that had the government positively responded to the Union’s earlier notices and appeals, there would have been no need for the strike in the first place.”

    The ASUU President commended the intervention of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and members of the National Assembly, saying the Union must acknowledge the swift intervention of the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, and Labour, led by their respective Chairmen.

    Piwuna said: “The union’s engagements with the two committees on Friday, 19th October 2025, and a follow-up meeting with the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, the same day, appeared promising in amicably resolving all the outstanding issues.

    “Our members place a lot of hope on the strong promises made by these distinguished Senators. We look forward to working with them to fully deliver on their promises.

    “The union acknowledges that the government has returned to the negotiating table — a feat that was impossible for almost one year. All issues related to this development have been faithfully reported to ASUU members nationwide and were comprehensively interrogated at an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of our Union held 21st–22nd October 2025.

    “While noting that much more work is still required, NEC came to the conclusion that the objective of the warning strike had been partly achieved.

    “Hence, it was decided that the ongoing strike be reviewed to allow for a conducive atmosphere for further engagements between the two parties. The decision to review the action was borne out of respect for our students and their parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and other well-meaning Nigerians who have mediated over the last ten days and have continued to do so.

    “We owe them a great debt of gratitude for their understanding, resilience, and demonstration of solidarity.

    “Consequently, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to reciprocate the overwhelming support of Nigerians. In addition, NEC resolved that a one-month window should be given to the government to conclude the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and fully address other outstanding issues.

    “NEC hopes that the government will take advantage of this opportunity to timeously resolve all the issues to guarantee industrial harmony and ensure stability in our academic calendar, as it has always promised.

    “In summary, the emergency NEC meeting resolved that: the warning strike is hereby suspended with effect from midnight, Wednesday, 22nd October 2025; should the government fail to resolve the issues within the one-month window, ASUU reserves the right to resume strike action without further notice; and ASUU appeals to patriotic Nigerians and stakeholders in education to prevail upon the government to speedily conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and other outstanding issues.”

    The union declared a two-week warning strike on October 12 to press home its demands.

    Piwuna said the union would not have embarked on the strike if the Federal Government had responded to its demands. 

    Piwuna listed ASUU’s seven demands as the re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of universities, an end to the alleged victimisation of ASUU members in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) and FUTO, payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, settlement of promotion arrears spanning over four years, and remittance of outstanding third-party deductions.