The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised alarm over worsening conditions in Nigeria’s public universities, warning that another nationwide strike is looming if the Federal Government fails to address long-standing issues affecting lecturers.
In a statement signed by its National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, on Saturday, the union accused the government of neglecting its obligations, leaving lecturers demoralized and financially strained.
“Feelers across campuses indicate that lecturers in Nigerian public universities are, to put it mildly, not happy. They teach students on empty stomachs,” the statement read.
According to ASUU, many lecturers conduct research without access to essential academic materials, work in poorly equipped laboratories, and travel in dilapidated vehicles, all while struggling with rising living costs, unpaid bills, and family responsibilities.
The union also expressed frustration over public criticism that blames universities for producing “unemployable graduates” while overlooking the systemic neglect of the academic sector.
ASUU’s warning comes despite recent remarks by Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who assured that strikes in tertiary institutions were a thing of the past, citing improved dialogue with unions. While the union acknowledged the importance of dialogue, it stressed that “government needs to go beyond words” to address unresolved demands.
Central to ASUU’s grievances is the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which covers conditions of service, university funding, autonomy, and academic freedom. The union noted that despite the submission of a draft agreement by the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed-led committee in December 2024, the process has been left hanging for eight months.
ASUU accused successive governments of breaching collective bargaining principles by cherry-picking parts of agreements to implement while ignoring others. This, the union said, has bred distrust and left the academic workforce “disempowered, dissatisfied, and disoriented.”
Warning of the consequences of continued neglect, ASUU urged the current administration to take decisive action to restore confidence, improve lecturers’ welfare, and equip universities adequately — or risk another round of industrial action that could disrupt the academic calendar nationwide.
