Fear Returns On Campuses As Lecturers-Federal Govt Rift Resurfaces

The nightmare of another university shutdown has returned. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that Nigeria’s public universities could soon face yet another strike, sending waves of anxiety through campuses across the country.

Barely a month after suspending a two-week warning strike in October, ASUU has said the Federal Government has failed to act on long-standing promises.

The union accused the government of persistent neglect in addressing critical demands, including unpaid salaries, promotion arrears, earned allowances, and funds for revitalising public universities.

The October 2025 warning strike was suspended on 22 October to give the Government a month to implement agreements.

ASUU leaders hoped this goodwill period would lead to meaningful action, but now they said the government has squandered the opportunity.

Following the suspension, the federal government announced it had released N2.3 billion to pay promotion and other arrears of university lecturers. However, ASUU stated it was unaware of this allocation.

The Education Minister later issued a statement claiming that all ASUU demands had been satisfied and that he remained at the negotiation table. The union countered that if the demands had indeed been met, there would be no reason for ongoing negotiations.

Sources within the universities revealed that the last time university workers’ salaries were reviewed was in 2009.

At that time, they said the salary of a professor was equivalent to approximately 3,000 USD. “In the 2009 agreement, salaries were due for review in 2013.

“Successive governments have deliberately refused to implement it. This appears to be an attempt to impoverish Nigerian academics. ASUU was forced into prolonged strikes to address this neglect, but instead of resolving the issue, the government employed starvation tactics to silence us. Our leaders ignore the multiplying effects of their insincerity,” one source explained.

For students and parents, the threat of another strike is a chilling reminder of recurring academic disruptions that have become almost routine in Nigeria. Exams are delayed, tuition fees accumulate, and families bear extra financial burdens while uncertainty prevails.

On campuses, anxious students wait for updates on whether lectures will continue or if classrooms will once again fall silent. Parents worry about prolonged academic calendars and the implications for their children’s futures.

ASUU’s statement cites data showing that both federal and state revenues have risen significantly, yet key demands remain unfulfilled.

“The problem is not lack of resources, it is lack of political will to prioritise education,” the union said. It warned that if the government continues to trivialise the challenges of public universities, ASUU will not hesitate to use every lawful means to protect its members and defend quality education in Nigeria.

Reports indicate that the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, covering salaries, welfare, academic autonomy, and university revitalisation, remains only partially implemented.

Past strikes have repeatedly disrupted academic calendars, affecting tens of thousands of students and families. With negotiations stalling and promises broken, Nigerians face the uncomfortable reality that the cycle of strikes and frustration is far from over.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, ASUU chairman of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), stated that the issues are far from being resolved.

“The government needs to act immediately to prevent another avoidable disruption of the academic calendar and the concomitant suffering for students, parents, and the nation.

“Nigerians may recall that the government’s proposals were evaluated at the emergency NEC meeting on 21 October 2025. Despite their inadequacy, the offers were accepted in good faith to allow for meaningful resumption of collective bargaining.”

Dr Ugoh explained that out of respect for students, parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and other well-meaning Nigerians who supported the struggle, the NEC suspended the two-week action on 22 October and granted the Federal Government a month to complete negotiations and demonstrate sincere commitment to implementing the proposals.

“Almost four weeks since the suspension, it is clear that the government has not utilised this goodwill period effectively. Their measures to resolve the impasse are inadequate and fail to address the main problems. The administration has not demonstrated the urgency required to tackle the persistent issues plaguing public universities.”

Another major area of disagreement remains the issues of salary and conditions of service.

Dr Ugoh described the proposed wage modifications as “tokenistic” and insufficient to prevent the large-scale exodus of qualified academics or to restore honour to academia.

While acknowledging the government’s partial release of some third-party deductions and promotion arrears dating back to 2017, he said these actions were aimed at fostering confidence rather than resolving the core problems.

“Attempts to portray these measures as significant achievements distort reality and erode public trust. The integrity of the renegotiation process is at risk. The government should prioritise problem-solving over public relations campaigns.”

Several critical matters remain unresolved, according to ASUU. The union continues to demand the renegotiation and full implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, which addresses academic autonomy, better funding, staff welfare, and the revitalisation of public universities essential to halting the continued deterioration of the Nigerian tertiary education system.

There is also an urgent call for the immediate release of members’ salaries withheld for three and a half months without valid reasons, despite their fulfilment of teaching, research, and community service obligations.

Additionally, the union stresses the payment of substantial unpaid arrears, including one year of the 25-35 per cent wage award and withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative funds and union check-off dues, which have only been partially released.

Dr Ugoh criticised statements from the Honourable Minister of Education and other government officials suggesting that these problems have been fully resolved.

“Only a fragmented portion of the requested monies has been received. Such misrepresentations exacerbate mistrust and make negotiations unnecessarily difficult.

‘We implore the Minister to prioritise verifiable action over media hyperbole. The combined effect of unpaid salary awards, withheld salaries, unremitted deductions, and chronic underfunding has been devastating: students face prolonged calendars, increased financial burdens, and disrupted learning. Academic morale has plummeted, affecting teaching quality, research productivity, and community service. The national project of building competent future leaders, innovators, and professionals is being severely undermined.”

He further called on all well-meaning Nigerians, including parents, students, civil society organisations, the National Assembly, professional associations, NGOs, and traditional rulers to demand integrity, transparency, and openness in the administration of education finances.

“We urge Nigerians to reject false information and insist that all government assertions be supported by verifiable evidence. The best way to revitalise public universities is through sincere negotiation rather than propaganda.

“However, when agreements are broken, payments withheld, or deception employed, ASUU has a moral and constitutional obligation to defend public education and safeguard its members. We will not hesitate to use every lawful tool at our disposal if the government continues to trivialise challenges undermining public universities.”