The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has cautioned the Federal Government over a potential crisis in the nation’s public universities, urging immediate action to meet long-standing demands.
In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, voiced the growing anger and frustration among lecturers, who he said are “not happy” with the government’s handling of their welfare and working conditions.
According to him, “Feelers across campuses indicate that lecturers in Nigerian public universities are, to put it mildly, not happy. They teach students on empty stomachs. They conduct research in libraries and laboratories bereft of essential electronic and physical journals, books, chemicals and reagents.
“They engage with communities and agencies in rickety cars while encumbered by utility bills, children’s fees, house rents, family upkeep and a legion of other unmet responsibilities.
“Yet elite Nigerians are quick to blame the universities for ‘producing unemployable graduates’ and failure to initiate innovative research for addressing the country’s problems. Our members feel forgotten, shamed and demoralised by past and present governments.”
Piwuna criticised the government for stalling on the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, despite receiving a draft from the Yayale Ahmed committee in December 2024.
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He noted that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, recently said “not again ever in this country will ASUU or tertiary institutions, trade unions, teachers, lecturers go on strike,” citing dialogue and improved relations with unions.
While welcoming the sentiment, Piwuna insisted that action must follow words. Outstanding issues, he stressed, include payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), completion of the 2009 Agreement renegotiation, and release of university revitalisation funds.
“For the umpteenth time, ASUU invites all genuine patriots to prevail on Nigeria’s Federal and State Governments to address all lingering labour issues in the Nigerian University System to avert another looming industrial crisis,” he urged.
The ASUU president also accused successive governments of undermining collective bargaining principles enshrined in ILO Conventions, creating distrust among academics.
He warned that unresolved matters on staff welfare, funding, university autonomy, and academic freedom continue to trigger disputes.
Piwuna further condemned political interference in the appointment of vice-chancellors and the reappointment of officials with questionable academic promotions.
On payroll matters, he blasted the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) as “corruption-laden” and faulted the withholding of salary arrears and promotion benefits.
“When a government punishes its citizens for demanding what is due to them, can it have any moral claim to democratic culture?” he asked, adding that undermining intellectual workers jeopardises the goal of building a knowledge-driven economy.