The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has enjoined members of the public to prevail on the federal government to accede to all of its demands so that the disruption of academic calendars will be averted.
Drawing attention to the looming crisis in the university system, ASUU said that it will not allow its members’ welfare to be subjected to the government’s delay tactics.
ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Biodun Olaniran, said this on Monday at a press conference by the Ibadan zone of ASUU, which was held at UI ASUU Secretariat, Ajibode Extension, Ibadan.
The Ibadan zone of ASUU comprises the University of Ibadan, Ibadan; University of Ilorin, Ilorin; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso; Osun State University, Osogbo; Kwara State University, Malete; and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo).
In attendance were other chairpersons, including Dr Adefemi Afolabi, ASUU-UI; Dr Alex Akanmu, ASUU-UNILORIN; Dr Olujimi Dada, ASUU-LAUTECH; Dr Wande Olaosebikan, ASUU-UNIOSUN; Prof. Shehu Salau, ASUU-KWASU; and Dr Bamidele Ojo, ASUU-EAUED.
In his address, the Zonal Coordinator, Olaniran, said that the looming crisis is fueled by the way the government has been handling unresolved issues affecting the Nigerian public universities in a frustrating manner.
According to Prof. Olaniran, the issues include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, sustainable funding/revitalisation of universities, university autonomy and victimisation of ASUU members in LASU, KSU and FUTO.
Others are outstanding 25-35 per cent salary arrears and third-party deductions, promotion arrears for over four years, and non-payment and mainstreaming of earned academic allowance in public universities.
He decried the stagnation of members’ salaries for the past 16 years despite the 2009 renegotiated agreement of review every three years.
He spoke of how it took the government eight years to constitute a renegotiation committee, with successive ones set up to engage the ASUU, eventually resulting in reaching a draft agreement in 2021 between ASUU and Prof. Nimi Briggs-led Committee.
Olaniran noted, however, that the government has refused to sign the draft despite it being the one that set up the committee.
“A true test of the government’s sincerity now lies in how it handles the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed report, submitted since February 2025, which encapsulates all contentious issues and reflects a consensus with our union,” he stated.
He spoke at a meeting planned for August 28, saying that ASUU members are no longer willing to be dragged along endlessly, as they are frustrated with the government’s delay tactics, which he referred to as ‘keep them talking’ syndrome.
ASUU expressed displeasure at the crisis plaguing universities through underfunding, which has led to scholars being deprived of tools and resources needed to conduct cutting-edge research, while no Nigerian university ranks among the top N1,000 globally.
The Zonal Coordinator also pointed out the inhuman treatment of ASUU members at LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Kogi, and Federal University of Technology, Owerri, whereby their salaries were illegally withheld for participating in national struggles.
He also remarked on the erosion of university autonomy by the government, the withheld salaries for three and a half months during the 2022 strike, and the implementation of IPPIS, which he described as fraudulent, among other issues, urging the government to honour its promises and take decisive steps to resolve the long-standing issues that had plagued the system.
“As peace-loving as we are, we can no longer allow the welfare of our members to be subjected to the delay tactics of the government.
“We love our country as patriots, but we value the sacrifices our members have made,” he concluded.
