The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sounded a serious alarm, calling on the Federal Government to take swift and concrete steps to address lingering issues affecting Nigeria’s public university system, warning that failure to act could plunge the nation’s tertiary education sector into yet another prolonged industrial crisis.
In a statement issued after an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC), ASUU expressed deep frustration over what it described as the government’s “consistent negligence and failure to honour past agreements.” The union stressed that its members have endured years of unfulfilled promises, underfunding, poor working conditions, and unresolved disputes over salaries, allowances, and infrastructure development in universities.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said the current situation was becoming “untenable,” noting that the union has exhausted all peaceful avenues for dialogue, yet the government continues to drag its feet. He emphasised that the Federal Government’s failure to address these pressing matters not only undermines the welfare of lecturers but also jeopardises the future of millions of Nigerian students who have already suffered severe academic disruptions in recent years.
According to ASUU, key demands include the immediate payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowances, full implementation of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a payroll system, urgent revitalisation funding for universities, and the fulfilment of all Memoranda of Action previously signed between the union and the government. The union warned that unless decisive measures are taken without delay, its members across all government-owned universities will have no choice but to down tools.
“Strike action has never been our preferred option,” Prof. Osodeke reiterated, “but when dialogue fails repeatedly, and our legitimate demands are ignored, we are left with no other recourse. The responsibility for any disruption in the academic calendar will rest squarely on the shoulders of those in authority who have chosen not to act.”
Education stakeholders, student unions, and parents have already expressed anxiety over the looming crisis, fearing a repeat of the 2022 strike that shut down public universities for eight consecutive months. Many have appealed to the Federal Government to urgently engage with ASUU and avert another damaging shutdown that could further weaken the already fragile education system.
As the tension builds, all eyes are now on Abuja, where critical decisions in the coming days may determine whether Nigerian students continue their studies without interruption—or face yet another indefinite closure of campuses nationwide.
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