Byline: IDNN Education Desk
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sounded the alarm that Nigeria’s university system faces another crippling strike if the Federal Government continues to renege on its commitments under the 2009 agreement.
Speaking after a meeting in Abuja, ASUU National President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said the union has grown frustrated by repeated government promises without delivery.
“For over a decade, successive administrations have signed agreements with us and failed to honour them. The 2009 agreement remains largely unimplemented. We cannot continue like this,” Osodeke declared.
The unresolved issues include:
- Payment of earned academic allowances
- Improved salary structures for lecturers
- Adequate funding for infrastructure and research
- University autonomy free from political interference
ASUU noted that earlier this year, the government released ₦50 billion for allowances, but argued the gesture fell far short of the commitments owed.
“Government must stop playing to the gallery with piecemeal gestures. If these issues are not addressed comprehensively, the union will have no option but to take decisive action,” Osodeke warned.
The threat revives fears of another prolonged strike, similar to the eight-month shutdown in 2022 that paralysed Nigeria’s public universities. Students and parents have urged both sides to avoid a repeat of that disruption.
Civil society groups say the crisis reflects the chronic underfunding of Nigeria’s education sector, where budget allocations continue to fall below UNESCO’s recommended 26 percent.
Observers warn that failure to resolve the standoff could inflame public anger and weaken confidence in the Tinubu administration’s promise to reform education.
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