ASUU wants FG to extend seven-year moratorium to private varsities, others

As the face-off between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) rages, the Union has insisted that the announced 7-year moratorium period for the establishment of new Universities should be extended to cover private Universities and other tertiary institutions (Colleges of Education and Polytechnics) if the pronouncement by the Government is anything to go by.

The assertion was made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) during a Press Conference by the Bauchi Zone held at the Sa’adu Zungur University, Gadau, Bauchi.

ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Namo Timothy, who read the text of the press conference, stated that, “For more than a decade, ASUU has continued to raise alarm over the proliferation of Universities, and indeed, other tertiary institutions (public, private, and faith-based) without concrete plans to fund and equip them for credible knowledge-creation and dissemination.”

According to him, “Presently, there are 72 Federal, 108 State and 159 private Universities (339) in Nigeria. ASUU has continued to advocate for proper funding and expansion of existing Universities and other tertiary institutions.”

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“It is on record that the Federal Government has agreed to provide adequate and sustainable funding for infrastructure and facilities to ensure efficient and effective teaching and learning”.

The ASUU Zonal Coordinator stressed that, “However, a survey across the campuses of public universities in Nigeria shows a gross underfunding as evidenced by dilapidated structures, ill equipped laboratories, studios, libraries and lecture theatres Government has failed to release the money captured in the 2025 budget to revitalise the universities, thereby worsening the working conditions and living conditions of staff and students.”

“We are gathered here once again to engage the Press on the lingering issues between the Federal Government of Nigeria and our great Union. These issues which have spanned over one-and-a-half decades, are threatening the peace we have enjoyed on our campuses for the past three years,” he added.

He explained that, “Recall that ASUU embarked on a protracted strike action in 2022 (February-October) to prevail on the Federal Government to resolve these issues to no avail. Following entreaties by well-meaning Nigerians, the Union suspended the strike to pave the way for amicable resolution of the issues.”

According to him, “Sadly, however, these issues have remained unresolved. Three months ago, the Union addressed a press conference to draw attention of the public to the lingering issues and the need for the Government to expedite action in addressing them, to avoid the disruption of the academic calendar in the universities. Since then, nothing much has changed. Today, we are gathered here to reiterate our call for Government to address the issues or risk industrial disharmony.”

The issues, according to him, are: Re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement; Sustainable funding of the universities; Revitalisation of the universities: Victimisation of our colleagues in LASU, KSU, and FUTO; Arrears of 25-35% wage award; Promotion Arrears, and Remittance of third-party deductions.

He stated that, “Re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement, like other previous agreements since 1992, the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement provided for 3-yearly review of the Document to reflect prevailing economic realities and to ensure that the University System in Nigeria competes favourably with its peers globally.”

“However, since 2009, all attempts to prevail on the Federal Government to conclude re-negotiation and implement a new Agreement have failed. Several committees have been set up by the Government, none of which has successfully concluded the re-negotiation exercise,” he added.

“Since the Sustainable Funding of Universities submission of the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed-Committee Report in February 2025, the Government has not paid any serious attention to the Document until a recent meeting on August 11, 2025.

“There are fears that Government is no longer interested in signing any Agreement with ASUU,. thereby threatening the time-tested collective. bargaining principle recognised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“This is in spite of the fact that Nigeria, which prides itself as the Giant of Africa, is a signatory to the ILO Convention with bogus representation on ILO meetings.

“During the National Executive Council meeting of our Union at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, on August 16-17, 2025, NEC reviewed the Government’s belligerent posture to the re-negotiation exercise and concluded that the Union must brace up to challenge the Government to conclude the re-negotiation and immediately implement the new Agreement.”

He, therefore, called on the FG to, as a matter of urgency, implement the 2009 renegotiated agreement, release revitalisation funds, pay withheld salaries and arrears, and stop the alleged persecution of members.

While commending ASUU members for their patience since the last strike was suspended, Timothy warned that the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony.

“ASUU calls on well-meaning Nigerians and the general public to prevail on the Federal Government to avert the imminent disruption of academic activities in public universities by addressing the aforementioned issues,” he said.

The ASUU Bauchi Zone comprises universities in States such as Bauchi, Gombe, and Plateau, among others.