The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned the Federal and State Governments to resolve long-standing disputes or face an imminent industrial crisis in Nigeria’s public universities.
In a statement signed by its president, Christopher Piwuna, the union voiced mounting frustration among members, citing poor welfare, inadequate funding, and the authorities’ repeated failure to honour signed agreements.
The warning follows a recent comment by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who vowed that “not again ever in this country will ASUU or tertiary institutions… go on strike,” citing dialogue and fulfilled promises as the way forward.
ASUU welcomed his optimism but insisted that the government must act, not just speak.
“While we share his optimism about dialogue and good relations, the government must move beyond rhetoric and address our outstanding issues,” the union stated.
The union described the harsh realities lecturers face, teaching “on empty stomachs” and conducting research without essential resources such as electronic journals, books, chemicals, and reagents. Many struggle with inadequate transport, unpaid utility bills, children’s school fees, and other financial burdens.
Piwuna condemned the blame placed on universities for producing unemployable graduates despite these conditions, saying lecturers feel “forgotten, shamed, and demoralised” by successive governments.
He accused the authorities of violating collective bargaining principles by stalling the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement and cherry-picking which provisions to implement.
ASUU also criticised political interference in vice-chancellor appointments, pointing to controversies such as that involving the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
Calling on leaders and stakeholders to intervene, ASUU urged the government to act immediately to avert another strike.
“Nigerian academics are tired of endless excuses and a pile of unfulfilled memoranda from 2013 to 2020. No memorandum or discussion can replace a Collective Bargaining Agreement that addresses welfare and provides an environment for productive academic work. The time to act is now,” the union declared.