By: Pentho Goldmark The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is once again on the brink of shutting down public universities across ...
By: Pentho Goldmark
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is once again on the brink of shutting down public universities across Nigeria. The lecturers’ union has warned that a total and comprehensive strike is inevitable if the Federal Government continues to drag its feet on agreements dating back to 2009.
Last week, ASUU members staged protests in universities nationwide, demanding better funding, improved welfare, and payment of outstanding arrears. The protests, they said, were meant to alert Nigerians to the government’s failure to honor promises made over the years.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, lamented that lecturers have endured more than two years of unfulfilled commitments. He pointed to unresolved issues such as the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, unpaid salaries, withheld promotions, and the plight of retired professors who earn as little as ₦150,000 monthly despite decades of service.
“It is the government that keeps pushing us into strike,” Piwuna said at a press briefing. “We have written several letters to resolve this amicably, but the Federal Government has consistently turned a deaf ear.”
Union leaders across campuses echoed the same frustration. At the University of Lagos, ASUU Chairman Prof. Idowu Kehinde stressed that despite several strategies to end the crisis, the government remains unresponsive. His counterpart at the Lagos State University of Education, Comrade Akolade Lapite, noted that negotiations have dragged on for so long that “some of those involved have even died,” yet nothing has changed.
At the University of Jos, where Piwuna teaches, ASUU branch chairman Dr. Jurbe Molwus accused the government of being solely responsible for the lingering dispute. He warned that the union could no longer guarantee the industrial harmony enjoyed in the past two years.
The issues on the table remain the same: funding for revitalization of public universities, outstanding arrears of 25–35 percent salary increases, promotion arrears, and an end to what ASUU calls “victimisation” of its members in some institutions.
Beyond ASUU, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has also proposed long-term solutions, including wage indexation tied to inflation, predictable funding through a “Higher Education Financing Framework,” and the creation of a permanent Education Sector Collective Bargaining Council. This council, they suggested, would make agreements legally enforceable and reduce the constant cycle of strikes.
Despite the tension, the Federal Government insists it is working toward a permanent solution. Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the review panel had gone through ASUU’s proposals “line by line” and that a final report would soon be submitted. He promised that unlike in the past, the Ministry of Justice would be fully involved to ensure any new agreement is constitutional and binding.
“We want an agreement where every component is actionable and feasible,” Alausa assured. “This government will keep schools open and ensure our children remain in classrooms.”
Parents and students, however, are not hiding their frustration. The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) appealed to both sides to put the interest of students first, while the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) urged sincerity from both ASUU and the government.
For many students, prolonged strikes have become a painful reality. Some, like Wonderful Adegoke of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, said they use the downtime to learn new skills. But others point to the rise in crime and wasted years as proof of how damaging repeated disruptions are.
As things stand, all eyes are on the negotiation table. Whether this fresh round of talks will finally put an end to the endless cycle of promises, protests, and strikes in Nigeria’s university system remains to be seen.
Photo credit:The Nation
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