ASUU issues strike warning, accuses FG of making empty promises

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned about an imminent industrial crisis in Nigeria’s public universities.

In a recent statement, Christopher Piwuna, the ASUU president, accused the federal and state governments of failing to address lingering issues affecting lecturers and the education sector.

He also berated Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, for making “empty promises” about preventing future strikes without taking concrete action.

Acknowledging the minister’s commitment to dialogue, Piwuna said the government must move beyond rhetoric and implement agreements reached with the union.

ASUU bemoaned the deplorable working conditions of university lecturers, who “teach on empty stomachs” and conduct research in “poorly equipped laboratories and libraries”.

The union lamented that despite these challenges, lecturers are often blamed for producing “unemployable graduates” and failing to drive innovation.

“Our members feel forgotten, shamed, and demoralised by successive governments,” the statement reads. 

The union also accused the government of disregarding the principles of collective bargaining, particularly in the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement.

ASUU stated that despite a draft agreement submitted by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee in December 2024, no progress has been made in eight months.

The statement added that the unresolved issues include “poor conditions of service”, inadequate university funding, erosion of university autonomy, and non-review of laws governing the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). 

ASUU also condemned the controversial Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which it described as “corruption-laden”, and accused the government of punishing lecturers who rejected it.

The union expressed concern over the “politicisation” of university leadership, citing the case of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, where an acting vice-chancellor with questionable credentials was reappointed.

Similar incidents, it claimed, have been recurring in federal universities.

ASUU urged well-meaning Nigerians to pressure the government to act swiftly and avert another strike.

The union noted that lecturers are tired of endless Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and discussions that never translate to tangible improvements.

“No memorandum can replace a properly negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement. The time to act is now,” it added.