The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned of a possible nationwide strike, citing worsening conditions in Nigeria’s public universities and the government’s failure to honour agreements.
In a statement signed by its National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, the union said the government had “pushed it to the wall,” revealing the difficulties faced by university lecturers.
“Reports from campuses nationwide reveal lecturers are deeply unhappy. Many teach students on empty stomachs,” the statement said.
It added, “Research is conducted in libraries and laboratories devoid of vital electronic and physical journals, books, chemicals, and reagents. Lecturers engage with communities and agencies in decrepit vehicles, all while struggling to pay utility bills, school fees, house rents, and cater for their families.”
ASUU criticised elites who “quickly blame universities for producing unemployable graduates and failing to produce innovative research to solve Nigeria’s problems.”
“Our members feel forgotten, shamed, and demoralised by successive governments,” the union said.
ASUU demands respect for collective bargaining as guaranteed by International Labour Organisation Conventions No. 98 (1949) and No. 154 (1981). The union accused past and current administrations of ignoring these principles.
“The current Federal Government faces an uphill task to rebuild trust, especially as attempts to renegotiate the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement have stalled. Despite the submission of a draft agreement by the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed committee since December 2024 — eight months ago — progress remains elusive,” ASUU said.
The union noted every major dispute since 2012 has come from the government’s failure to respect clauses in the agreement, including those on conditions of service, funding, university autonomy, academic freedom, and laws governing the National Universities Commission and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
ASUU accused governments of selective implementation and token gestures, stating, “Government agents have disregarded the spirit of the agreement, choosing what to implement and renegotiating others. This approach demoralises academic workers and undermines the core functions of teaching, research, and community service.”
The union also criticised government proposals to bring academics back from abroad as “volunteers” under the ‘Diaspora Bridge’ scheme, calling it “hypocritical and deceptive.”
“Our academics have been pushed to the brink by governments that withhold salaries and ignore their welfare,” the statement said.
ASUU raised concerns about political interference in university governance, warning merit and scholarship are being sacrificed for political interests in appointing Vice Chancellors.
The union ended with a warning: “For the umpteenth time, ASUU calls on all true patriots to urge Nigeria’s Federal and State Governments to resolve all lingering labour issues in the university system to avoid another looming industrial crisis. Nigerian academics are tired of empty promises and excuses.”
