The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that Nigeria’s public university system could be heading toward another round of industrial unrest if the Federal Government and state governments fail to fully implement the December 2025 agreement reached with the union.
The warning was issued by ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, during a press conference at the end of the union’s National Executive Council meeting held at Modibbo Adama University between May 9 and 10, 2026.
The union said although the agreement was publicly unveiled in January 2026, implementation has been “distorted and uncoordinated,” with the Federal Government yet to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee expected to oversee execution and prevent bureaucratic delays.
ASUU alleged that some federal university administrators were selectively implementing aspects of the agreement, particularly payments relating to Consolidated Academic Tool Allowances, Earned Academic Allowances, and Professorial Allowances, rather than mainstreaming them into the Consolidated Academic Staff Salary Scale as agreed.
The union also accused several state governments of refusing to honour commitments despite participating in negotiations.
According to ASUU, the failure to properly execute the agreement threatens the modest gains secured after eight years of negotiations spanning 2017 to 2025.
The union further faulted the Federal Government’s recent announcement of a proposed National Research and Innovation Development Fund, saying the initiative deviates from the original agreement which stipulated that at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product should be committed to research and innovation funding.
ASUU expressed surprise that the Education Ministry proposed a $500 million funding framework without reference to the signed agreement, questioning whether the government intended to borrow externally to finance the initiative.
On staff welfare, the union listed unresolved issues including arrears of the 25–35 per cent salary award, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls linked to the now-disputed IPPIS platform, withheld salaries from the 2022 strike action, unremitted pension contributions, and unpaid cooperative deductions.
ASUU described the continued withholding of salaries as unjustifiable, noting that while teaching activities were suspended during strikes, research and community service continued.
The union also lamented what it described as the neglect of retired academics, particularly those in state universities who are owed pensions running into years of arrears.
It called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene and address the welfare concerns to preserve industrial peace across campuses.
Rejection of minister’s policies
Beyond welfare matters, ASUU criticised recent education policy pronouncements by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
The union rejected the minister’s decision to reverse the mother-tongue policy in early childhood education, arguing that global evidence supports indigenous language instruction as beneficial for cognitive development.
It also opposed the Federal Government’s proposed transnational education partnership with Coventry University to establish a Nigerian campus, describing it as a “neo-colonial undertaking” that could further undermine local universities.
ASUU equally faulted the compulsory enrollment of academics into the Nigeria Education Repository Databank, saying stakeholders were not consulted and warning that the directive could violate privacy protections under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
The union also rejected reported plans to scrap certain humanities and social science programmes deemed “irrelevant,” insisting that such disciplines remain essential for critical thinking, creativity, and broader societal development.
ASUU expressed concern over what it called irregular appointments and questionable practices in universities, accusing some vice-chancellors of creating unofficial academic positions such as “Professor of Practice” and “Diaspora Professors” to reward political allies and cronies.
It warned that such practices undermine academic integrity and institutional credibility.
The union also condemned the attempt by the Niger State Government to reclaim the Bosso campus of Federal University of Technology Minna, describing it as a dangerous precedent capable of destabilising collaborative development efforts between state and federal authorities.
ASUU critiques the national situation
On the broader national situation, ASUU painted a grim picture of worsening insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, and political tension ahead of the 2027 elections.
The union criticised what it described as tokenistic welfare interventions by politicians, saying millions of Nigerians remain trapped in multidimensional poverty despite official claims of economic progress.
It urged governments at all levels to prioritise security, social welfare, and genuine development over political calculations.
ASUU said its National Executive Council had directed that an emergency meeting of the union be convened within weeks to reassess the situation and determine the next course of action if the government fails to act.
The union appealed to Nigerians to pressure both federal and state governments to fully implement the agreement and resolve outstanding issues to avert another disruption to the university system.
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