The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government over the protracted stagnation in renegotiating a long-standing agreement, threatening to take decisive action.
ASUU President Chris Piwuna stated on Sunday, July 27, that the union’s patience has worn thin after seven years of unfulfilled promises regarding the 2009 FG‑ASUU agreement. Negotiations, stalled since 2017, continue to be a major sticking point.
He emphasized that union demands are not vague or empty: they cover vital issues like academic autonomy, earned allowances, improved funding, staff welfare, and working conditions. “We are tired of words and promises… We either have an agreement or we don’t,” Piwuna declared.
Among their grievances, ASUU highlights salary withholdings during the 2022 strike and entitlements denied via the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Despite the government’s pledge to inject ₦150 billion into universities and correct irregular allowances by 2026, these commitments remain unmet.
Piwuna also raised concerns about alleged marginalization of ASUU members at state-run universities such as Lagos State University and Kogi State University. He pointed to persistent issues of job insecurity, withholding of salaries, and political interference in university leadership selections.
Warning that Nigerian universities are increasingly becoming “battlegrounds for political and economic interests,” the ASUU leader insisted that the time for constructive dialogue is over. He pledged that the union is prepared to escalate matters if meaningful progress is not achieved soon.
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