ASUU Threatens Fresh Strike Over Unmet Demands: What It Means for Nigeria’s Universities

ASUU Threatens Fresh Strike Over Unmet Demands from Federal Government

Nigeria’s education system may once again be heading into troubled waters as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a strong warning of a possible nationwide strike. The union insists that the Federal Government has failed to address several lingering issues that affect both the welfare of lecturers and the survival of Nigeria’s public universities.
At a press conference held at the University of Jos on Thursday, ASUU President Professor Christopher Piwuna accused the Federal Government of playing what he described as a “disturbing game of broken promises and delay tactics.”
For millions of Nigerian students and their families, this development sounds like déjà vu. Over the past decade, ASUU strikes have crippled academic calendars, delayed graduations, and left many young people uncertain about their future. Now, with ASUU threatening another shutdown, Nigerians are once again holding their breath.

At the heart of ASUU’s grievances are unresolved issues that have been pending for years. Some of the most pressing include:
1. Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement
2. Payment of withheld salaries
3. Rejection of the government’s Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF)
4. Concerns over university proliferation
5. Poor conditions for retired academics under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS)
According to ASUU, these issues go beyond the personal welfare of lecturers. They cut to the core of whether Nigerian universities can remain competitive globally, retain top talent, and deliver quality education to students.

The Broken Promises of the 2009 Agreement
One of ASUU’s central demands is the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement. This document, which outlines matters such as staff welfare, university autonomy, and funding, has been the basis of several past strikes.
In February 2025, a committee led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed submitted a draft renegotiated agreement. Yet, months later, the government has not acted on it. Professor Piwuna described the situation as “proof that trust between the union and government has been destroyed.”
For lecturers, this is not just about salaries. The agreement covers critical issues such as

• Ensuring academic freedom.
• Improving funding for research and infrastructure.
• Protecting the autonomy of universities from political interference.
• Creating sustainable conditions of service for academic staff.

Without these, ASUU argues, Nigerian universities will continue to decline in global rankings.
Another major sticking point is the Federal Government’s proposed Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF). The scheme, according to government officials, is meant to provide loans for lecturers. But ASUU has roundly rejected it, describing it as “a poisoned chalice.”
Professor Piwuna made it clear:

“Our members do not lack where to find loans. What we need is for government to sign our renegotiated agreement, improve our purchasing power, and defray the three and a half months of withheld salaries.”

ASUU warns that the loan system would cripple cooperative societies, weaken financial independence for lecturers, and further erode their already diminished take-home pay after deductions for pensions, union dues, and health contributions.
ASUU also demands the payment of three and a half months of withheld salaries. The Federal Government had previously adopted a “no work, no pay” policy during strikes, leaving many lecturers struggling to survive.
To ASUU, withholding salaries is a form of victimization that undermines collective bargaining. The union argues that its members, who continued to supervise students and conduct research even during strike actions, should not be punished.
This issue has remained a sore point, deepening mistrust between the government and the academic community.
Beyond welfare issues, ASUU has also criticized what it calls the “scandalous proliferation of universities.”
Currently, Nigeria has:
72 federal universities
108 state universities
159 private universities
Despite this high number, many of these institutions struggle with poor funding, inadequate staff, and lack of infrastructure. Yet, licenses for new private universities are still being issued, while existing public institutions remain underfunded.
ASUU praised the recent decision to pause the creation of new federal universities but questioned why private ones continue to spring up despite poor subscription rates.
For the union, the reckless expansion of universities without proper funding is one of the reasons Nigeria’s higher institutions are losing ground in global rankings.

ASUU also raised alarm over the plight of retired academics under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). According to the union, professors who dedicated over four decades of service to the country now receive as little as ₦150,000 per month as a pension.
With inflation, rising fuel prices, and skyrocketing costs of food, housing, electricity, and medication, many retired academics are living in hardship.
Professor Piwuna lamented:

“Those who fought for the sustenance of our universities should not be treated with disdain. This situation is cruel and unacceptable.”

The union insists that the pension scheme must be reviewed to ensure dignity and security for retired academics.

ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC), which met on August 16–17 at Usmanu Danfodio University, resolved to give the government until after a scheduled meeting on August 28, 2025, to address the issues.
The union warned that the outcome of that meeting would determine its next steps. In the meantime, ASUU has announced that rallies will be held across university campuses as a form of warning strike.
For many students and parents, the coming weeks will be filled with anxiety, as they wait to see whether another disruption to the academic calendar will occur.

For students, it means more wasted time, delayed graduations, and missed opportunities. Many who hoped to complete their programs in four years often end up spending six to seven years due to strike disruptions. For parents and families, it means financial strain as they continue to support children who should have graduated. For Nigeria’s economy, it means a weaker workforce, as graduates enter the labor market later and less prepared.
For global competitiveness, it means Nigeria’s universities continue to slide down in rankings, losing the ability to attract international students and partnerships. Education is often described as the foundation of national development. Without stable universities, Nigeria risks falling further behind in science, technology, and innovation.

ASUU summarized its demands into four key points:
1. Renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 Agreement.
2. Sustainable funding of public universities.
3. Revitalization of decaying infrastructure.
4. An end to the victimization of union members, particularly in LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.
The union argues that addressing these demands will not only improve the lives of lecturers but also restore dignity and functionality to Nigeria’s higher education system.

Interestingly, ASUU has called on well-meaning Nigerians to intervene. The union urged groups such as
The Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC)
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
Traditional rulers
The National Assembly
This reflects the fact that the consequences of strikes go far beyond lecturers. Every Nigerian family, directly or indirectly, is affected when universities shut down.
At the press conference, Professor Piwuna left Nigerians with a powerful reminder:

“The most powerful weapon against poverty, extremism, and ignorance is not the bullet, but education.”

This quote highlights the heart of the crisis: Nigeria cannot afford to treat education as an afterthought. Every delay, every broken promise, and every shutdown weakens the nation’s ability to fight poverty and build a future driven by innovation.

The coming weeks will reveal whether Nigeria’s leaders are willing to prioritize education over politics. For ASUU, the message is clear: they are tired of waiting. For students and families, the fear of another wasted academic year looms large. As the August 28 meeting approaches, the question remains: will the government take decisive action to restore trust, or will Nigeria’s public universities once again be thrown into crisis?
One thing is certain: the survival of Nigeria’s higher education system depends not on empty promises, but on concrete actions.

By Primelineinfo