The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Jos branch, has warned of a possible industrial crisis in Nigeria’s public universities, citing the Federal Government’s slow and inconsistent implementation of the 2025 FGN/ASUU agreement.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday at the union’s secretariat in the University of Jos, the branch leadership said dissatisfaction was growing among academics, warning that the fragile peace in the university system could collapse if urgent action was not taken.
ASUU said its National Executive Council (NEC), which met at Modibbo Adama University on May 9 and 10, 2026, reviewed progress on the December 23, 2025 agreement and expressed concern over poor compliance by the government.
The union warned that failure to fully implement the agreement could trigger fresh industrial action across public universities.
It accused the Federal Government of failing to establish the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC), which was meant to oversee execution of the agreement and prevent administrative delays.
ASUU said the absence of the committee had led to what it described as partial and inconsistent implementation of key allowances, including the Consolidated Academic Tool Allowance, Earned Academic Allowance, Professorial Allowance, and responsibility payments.
The union commended Sa’adu Zungur University and Ekiti State University for partially implementing aspects of the agreement, urging other institutions to follow suit to avoid a nationwide breakdown of industrial harmony.
It also criticised the establishment of the National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF) by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, without consultation, questioning its proposed dollar-denominated structure.
ASUU insisted that existing provisions for research funding in the 2025 agreement should be fully respected.
The union further listed unresolved welfare issues, including salary arrears, promotion backlogs, withheld wages from the 2022 strike, IPPIS-related shortfalls, and unremitted deductions.
It argued that the “no work, no pay” policy was unjustified, maintaining that academic work continued during the strike period through research and community engagement.
ASUU also raised concerns over pension arrears affecting retired lecturers and appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently.
It faulted recent education policies, including the reversal of mother-tongue instruction in early childhood education and proposed foreign-linked academic programmes, describing them as threats to university autonomy.
The union warned that worsening economic hardship, insecurity, and political tension ahead of the 2027 elections were increasing public frustration.
It cautioned that failure to resolve outstanding issues could trigger another strike, urging government to act swiftly to preserve stability in the university system.