ASUU threatens fresh strike, rejects FG’s loan scheme

The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday warned the Federal Government of its plans to embark on an industrial action following the government’s persistent failure to honour agreements and address lingering challenges in the nation’s university system.

ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, issued the warning while addressing newsmen at the University of Jos, stressing that trust had been destroyed by the government, and it was therefore up to them to rebuild it in order to avert a strike.

According to him, the union had been pushed to the wall after over two years of patience without tangible results.

He accused the government of deliberately employing delay tactics in renegotiating the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, addressing outstanding salary arrears, and implementing measures to revitalise universities.

Speaking on the 2009 Agreement and collective bargaining, the union lamented that despite the submission of the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed Report in February 2025, the government had failed to act on its recommendations.

“Yayale Ahmed submitted the report in February 2025, and it has remained on the shelf until our meeting of 11th August 2025. This is clearly troubling for our members, as it indicates the government’s attempt to jettison the Collective Bargaining Principle,” Piwuna said.

ASUU expressed concern that this undermines the principle of collective bargaining, to which Nigeria is committed as a signatory to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention.

The ASUU President noted that the draft agreement covers crucial issues such as conditions of service, university autonomy, academic freedom, funding, and the review of laws governing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Universities Commission (NUC), among others.

ALSO READ: ‘Shun profiteering’, ASUU condemns FG’s approval of new private varsities

Piwuna acknowledged the planned government meeting of 28th August 2025 but warned that “time is running out.” He stressed that with the attack on lecturers’ salaries through the introduction of loans for staff, the union was prepared for all options at “the next meeting to be convened as soon as we get feedback on the meeting convened by the Minister of Education.”

The union strongly rejected the government’s proposed Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), which seeks to provide loans to lecturers. Describing it as a “poison chalice,” the union insisted that what its members need is improved wages through the renegotiated agreement, not more debts.

“What we need now is for the government to sign our renegotiated agreement, which will improve our purchasing power and decrease our reliance on debts from cooperative societies. We consider it a poison chalice and redirect members to ask our employers, the Governing Councils through Vice Chancellors to guarantee the loan.

“It is needless to add that this government still owes our members 3½ months’ salaries for work already done. The government should use the money set aside for loans to pay our withheld salaries.

“Members are advised to stay away from the loan and focus on our legitimate entitlements because it is a bait. This loan will incapacitate university-based cooperative societies and enslave our members perpetually.

“The obvious implication is that after deducting union dues, NHIS, pension contributions, and cooperative deductions, nothing would be left for family needs. How can the government ask us to take loans to pay for healthcare and children’s school fees?” Piwuna asked.

The union also criticised the unchecked establishment of universities, accusing successive governments of turning them into tools for political patronage rather than genuine centres of learning.

According to the union, Nigeria now has 339 universities, 72 federal, 108 state, and 159 private, yet many lack basic facilities and adequate staff.

ASUU urged the government to extend its moratorium on new public universities to private ones, warning that the current trend would only worsen quality and global rankings.

The union further decried the plight of retired professors and lecturers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), noting that many who served the system for decades are left with as little as ₦150,000 monthly in a harsh economic environment.

“This situation is cruel and unacceptable. Our retired colleagues are battling chronic illnesses and caring for dependents with meagre pensions. Government must reverse this ugly trend,” ASUU declared.

On the next line of action, ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC), after its recent meeting at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, resolved to wait for the outcome of the government’s August 28 meeting before taking further steps.

The union, however, announced plans to hold rallies across university campuses next week as a warning signal to the government.

“We cannot continue this journey with empty tanks. If the government fails to act, ASUU will have no choice but to embark on action to defend public university education,” Piwuna warned.

Reiterating its demands, which include renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, revitalisation of universities, sustainable funding, and an end to the victimisation of members ASUU stressed that the ball is in the government’s court.

“The general public should note that ASUU has tried every possible means to resolve these issues amicably. It is the Federal Government that has consistently pushed our union to the edge. If a strike happens, Nigerians should know who to hold responsible,” Piwuna concluded.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE