ASUU Insists On Immediate Implementation Of Outstanding Issues

By Ayodele Oni

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University of Technology, Akure, (FUTA) and University of Calabar (UNICAL) obeyed order from parent body to embark on protest on Tuesday over alleged government’s inaction on long-standing issues affecting the sector, describing it as ‘wicked and heartless’.

FUTA lecturers, during a protest at the institution, carried placards with various inscriptions chanting solidarity songs matched through the campus to express their grievances.

Addressing Journalists, the Chairman of ASUU, FUTA, Prof Pius Mogaji said, government’s alleged failure to address issues such as the re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, sustainable funding of universities, and the plight of retired academic staff, threatens the very foundation of higher education in Nigeria.

Prof Mogaji said: “The Union has consistently clung to the assurance of the Federal Government, holding on-against all odds with the believe that its officials possess integrity that can stand the test of Public Scrutiny.

“Regrettably, months later, we are compelled to inform the Nigerian Public that these legitimate and long-standing issues remain unaddressed, a trend that threatens our already fragile educational sector and faces the imminent risk of yet another crisis.

“The report of the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed-led re-negotiation, painstakingly concluded and submitted since February 2025, has been left to gather dust in the corridors of power For more than five (5) long months.

“Government has treated the document with reckless indifference, a clear betrayal of trust and an insult to the principle of collective bargaining.

“To ignore it is to undermine the very foundation of higher education in this country. While we take note of the Government’s planned meeting of August 28, 2025, let it be clear: the clock is ticking and time is no longer on Governments side.

“Our patience has been stretched to its breaking point, trust has been shattered and only decisive Government action can mend it. The NEC has resolved that all options remain on the table.

“If Government chooses provocation over responsibility, if it continues to play games with the future of our Universities, then it alone must bear the consequences of the storm that will follow.

“The ball is squarely in the Government’s Court. Restore trust now – or brace for the inevitable.”

At the UNICAL,ASUU stated that the Union is set for what it described as “mother of all strikes” if the federal government fails to implement the 1992 agreement.

Speaking at a press briefing at its Secretariat on Tuesday, the chairperson of ASUU-UCB, Dr. Peter Ubi, said since the federal government has been dilly-dallying and playing with time over ASUU demands, it has, therefore, becomes imperative to shut down the universities everybody to go home.

The union expressed concerns over the victimisation of some of its members and the non-remittance of third-party deductions.

It however accused the government of using delay tactics to avoid addressing the issues noting that despite submitting the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed Report in February 2025, nothing has been done to resolve the matters.

“Time is running out, we urge the government to return to the Collective Bargain Principle in addressing the issues in our draft agreement” ASUU warned.

The union rejected the government’s proposal to offer loans to staff, describing it as a ploy to further burden members with debt.

ASUU explained that trust has already been destroyed by the federal government citing the loan scheme as an attack on their salaries.

“Trust has been destroyed by the government, it is, therefore up to them to regain it to avert any strike.

“Our members are already neck-deep in loans. All we need is for the government to sign our renegotiated agreement, which will improve our purchasing power and decrease our reliance on loans from cooperative societies.

“This government still owes our members 3% months of salaries for work done. The government should use the money set aside for the loans to defray our withheld salaries. Members are advised to stay away from the loan and focus on our legitimate entitlements because it is a bait, and will incapacitate university- based cooperative societies.”