The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the National Assembly, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and students to intervene and prevent an imminent nationwide strike, warning that its members’ patience has reached breaking point.
The union staged protests across several federal universities on Tuesday, accusing the Federal Government of failing to address long-standing demands, including unpaid salaries, wage arrears, and the implementation of the renegotiated 2009 agreement.
ASUU also rejected the government’s plan to provide lecturers with loans, describing it as a “Greek gift”, insisting that what members need is full payment of entitlements, not palliative credit schemes.
FG Seeks to Calm Tensions
In response, the Federal Ministry of Education assured that dialogue was ongoing.
Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, Director of Public Affairs, disclosed that Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa would meet with ASUU leaders on Thursday, expressing confidence that the situation would not deteriorate into a strike.
Protests Across Universities
- UNILAG: Branch chairman Prof. Idou Keinde said lecturers don’t need loans guaranteed by ASUU but proper funding and welfare.
- Akure Zone: Zonal Coordinator Prof. Adeola Egbedokun said lecturers’ patience had been “stretched to breaking point,” warning that consequences would be “damning” if demands were ignored.
- UNIUYO: Protesters suspended Computer-Based Tests (CBT) and accused the FG of plotting to “destroy public universities” as it did primary and secondary education.
- UNIJOS: Branch chairperson Comrade Jurbe Molwus called on President Tinubu to “renew hope” by addressing over eight years of stalled renegotiations.
- MOUAU: Prof. Chike Ugwuene condemned the outdated 2009 agreement that leaves professors earning less than half of the African average salary.
- UNIABUJA: Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh said lecturers are owed 3.5 months’ salaries, wage arrears, and over five years of unpaid promotion entitlements.
- AE-FUNAI (Ebonyi): Comrade Louis Omenyi described the current pay structure as “obsolete and expired.”
- UI & Oyo: Protests led by Dr. Adefemi Afolabi and NLC’s Kayode Martins demanded Tinubu sign the renegotiated agreement by August 28 or face a full strike.
- UNILORIN: Dr. Alex Akanmu called for increased budgetary allocation for education, saying “university workers are not slaves.”
- UNIMAID: Dr. Abubakar Mshelia condemned poor pensions and neglect of academics, calling it a “national disgrace.”
