…rejects Coventry University partnership, decries welfare neglect, warns of looming national crisis
By Vincent Ekpo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a strong warning of a possible nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of failing to fully implement the 2025 FG–ASUU agreement and deepening frustration among university lecturers.
Rising from its National Executive Council meeting held at Modibbo Adama University, the union said key provisions of the agreement signed in December 2025 were being neglected, raising concerns about renewed industrial action across Nigerian universities.
ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, said the optimism that followed the agreement was fading due to what he described as the government’s poor commitment to implementation, especially on funding and welfare issues.
According to the union, frustration among academics was building and could “erupt into a fresh wave of industrial unrest” if urgent steps were not taken to address outstanding concerns.
ASUU criticised the Federal Government for failing to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee meant to ensure compliance with the agreement. It also accused university managements of selective implementation of allowances such as the Consolidated Academic Tool Allowance, Earned Academic Allowance, and Professorial Allowance.
The union further alleged that many state governments had ignored the agreement entirely, worsening disparities in lecturers’ remuneration across the country.
It also raised concerns over unresolved welfare matters, including salary arrears, promotion arrears, shortfalls linked to the IPPIS system, unremitted deductions, and the lingering issue of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike period.
ASUU warned that continued neglect of academic welfare posed a serious threat to national development, insisting that lecturers were being treated unfairly despite their role in nation-building.
The union also lamented the condition of retired academics, alleging that many pensioners in state-owned universities were still owed arrears and had not benefited from pension harmonisation.
On education policy, ASUU rejected the proposed transnational education arrangement involving Coventry University, describing it as “neo-colonial” and unnecessary, arguing that Nigerian universities should be strengthened to global standards instead.
It also faulted the reversal of the mother-tongue instruction policy by the Ministry of Education, led by Tunji Alausa, insisting that early childhood education is more effective when grounded in indigenous languages.
ASUU further opposed the compulsory enrolment of academics into the Nigeria Education Repository Databank, warning it could raise concerns around data privacy and academic autonomy.
The union also rejected proposals to scrap certain university courses deemed “irrelevant,” particularly in the humanities and social sciences, arguing that all disciplines contribute meaningfully to national development.
It accused some university administrators of financial mismanagement and criticised the introduction of controversial academic titles such as “Professor of Practice” and “Diaspora Professor,” which it said could undermine standards in the university system.
ASUU also condemned attempts by the Niger State Government to reclaim the Bosso campus of the Federal University of Technology Minna, warning that such actions could destabilise federal-state relations in higher education.
Beyond education issues, the union warned that worsening insecurity, inflation, poverty, and political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections were pushing Nigeria toward what it described as a “looming national crisis.”
ASUU urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and relevant stakeholders to urgently address outstanding issues to avoid another prolonged disruption of academic activities.
While reaffirming its readiness for dialogue, the union said its NEC it had directed an emergency review meeting in the coming weeks to determine its next line of action.
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