ASUU Warns Federal Government Over Unimplemented Agreement, Threatens Fresh Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate implementation of the 2025 FGN/ASUU agreement or risk another round of industrial action across public universities in Nigeria.

The warning was delivered by the ASUU Calabar Zone during a press briefing in Abakaliki, where the union accused both federal and state governments of neglecting the university system and failing to address critical welfare issues affecting lecturers.

Speaking on behalf of the zone, Ikechukwu Igwenyi said lecturers had continued to suffer unpaid salaries, withheld allowances, pension deductions, and worsening economic hardship despite the government’s public celebration of the agreement signed in December 2025.

According to the union, the continued implementation of the controversial “No Work, No Pay” policy has reduced university lecturers to what it described as “daily-paid workers,” while many academics remain financially stranded.

The ASUU Calabar Zone includes institutions such as University of Calabar, University of Uyo, Ebonyi State University, Abia State University, and several other tertiary institutions across the South-South and South-East regions.

ASUU alleged that although the government announced the signing of the agreement with fanfare in January 2026, implementation had remained incomplete and largely ineffective.

One of the union’s major concerns is the failure of the Federal Government to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which ASUU said was created to ensure proper execution of the agreement and prevent bureaucratic sabotage.

The lecturers accused government officials of carrying out the agreement in what they described as a distorted and uncoordinated manner, while some state governments have allegedly ignored the agreement entirely.

ASUU also criticised the proposed National Research Council initiative, questioning why the government planned to fund the project through foreign borrowing.

The union specifically challenged the decision to earmark 500 million dollars for the project, arguing that educational development in Nigeria should not be dollar-denominated when the country’s official currency is the naira.

The lecturers further listed several unresolved welfare issues affecting members, including unpaid Earned Academic Allowances, withheld 2022 salaries, unpaid wage award arrears, unpaid CATA, pension remittances, and salary shortfalls linked to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

According to ASUU, withholding salaries for services already rendered is unfair, especially as students have completed their studies and graduated while lecturers remain unpaid.

The union also accused some university governing councils and administrators of financial recklessness, abuse of due process, and irregular appointments within the university system.

ASUU claimed that controversial titles such as “Professors of Practice” and “Diaspora Professors” were being introduced in some universities without proper approval from university senates and governing councils.

On retired academics, the union lamented that many pensioners have allegedly been abandoned by state governments, with some retirees reportedly receiving no pensions despite being enrolled under pension schemes.

ASUU warned that worsening inflation, fuel subsidy removal, and the rising cost of living have plunged many lecturers into severe financial hardship, adding that the situation is contributing to the growing brain drain affecting Nigeria’s education sector.

The union therefore demanded the immediate inauguration of the Implementation Monitoring Committee, full implementation of the 2025 agreement, payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances, remittance of withheld deductions, and an end to political interference in university administration.

ASUU also called for a review of the National Research Council framework to ensure alignment with the signed agreement.

The union warned that if the government fails to respond to its demands, it should be held responsible for any industrial crisis that may erupt in Nigerian universities.

ASUU stressed that authorities should not wait for another nationwide strike before taking action, insisting that the future of Nigeria’s university system and national development depends on urgent reforms and proper funding of education.