ASUU in OAU, FUD protest FG’s failure to meet demands

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members in the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) chapter and the Federal University Dutse (FUD) in Jigawa State, on Tuesday, staged a protest across the campus to express anger over the Federal Government’s failure to meet its longstanding demands.

The lecturers, who trooped out in large numbers, marched through major roads within the university while chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Enough is Enough” and “Govern Us, Not Oppress Us.”

The protest, which drew the attention of students and passers-by, was described as a warning to the government that the union’s patience was fast running out.

While speaking with newsmen during the protest, the ASUU-OAU Chairperson, Anthony Odiwe, accused the government of neglecting the education sector and showing a lackadaisical attitude towards the welfare of academic staff.

He noted that despite repeated promises, the Federal Government had failed to implement the renegotiated 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement and had continued to employ delay tactics even after receiving the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed report on the renegotiated agreement in February 2025.

According to him, the union has been pushed to the wall following years of underfunding of universities, withheld salaries, unpaid arrears, and the failure to address the issue of the victimisation of lecturers in some institutions.

Odiwe emphasised that ASUU had exercised patience and refrained from strike action for more than two years in the hope that the government would demonstrate seriousness in resolving the crisis.

He said the union had written several letters, explored various strategies of engagement, and drawn attention to the issues affecting universities, yet the government had failed to act decisively.

He warned that the union could no longer continue to suffer in silence while pretending all was well in the system.

The union insisted that unless the government takes concrete steps to address the outstanding issues before its next NEC meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025, it would be left with no other option but to embark on fresh industrial action.

ASUU warned that if the relative peace currently being enjoyed on campuses across the country is disrupted, the Federal Government should be held responsible.

The OAU chapter further called on well-meaning Nigerians, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, student bodies, and the National Assembly, to intervene and prevail upon the government to act swiftly and avert another disruption of academic activities nationwide.

Meanwhile, a protest was also held at the permanent site of the institution (FUD) where the members of the association gathered at Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi Auditorium and walked to the Senate building where the chairman of the FUD ASUU branch, Comrade Salim Ahmed, addressed journalists.

Speaking to newsmen, Ahmed faulted the federal government for its failure to fulfill its promises saying that enough is enough.

During the peaceful protest the members hold placard with different inscriptions “Stop jeopardizing future of Nigeria Universities ” , “Federal Government should Learn to respect agreement “.

Others are “Our take home can not take us home” “pay lecturers African average salary” “we don’t need your loan” among others.

He said, the aim is to praise the Federal Government to consider for the Union demands.

“We have a lot of pending issues and Federal Government is not paying attention to, including renegotiation of 2009 agreement, signing of Yayele’s led committes report, third party deduction and payment of three and a half salaries, among others.

“We have been waiting for Government to do the needful but still nothing has been done; enough is enough; our patience is now over,” he said.

The union therefore urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency consider the union’s demand to save the future of the country.

ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE