The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reported significant progress in the implementation of its renegotiated agreement with the federal government and state governments, identifying Imo and Taraba states as the major defaulters.
The union has also warned its members, particularly officials, against engaging in partisan politics, threatening disciplinary action against those found using the union’s name to endorse political parties or candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
ASUU President, Prof Chris Piwuna, disclosed this on Thursday at the union’s 2026 Heroes Day celebration in Abuja.
He said that while most states were making genuine efforts to implement the agreement, Imo and Taraba had yet to fulfil their obligations.
Piwuna said the union concluded the renegotiation process last year and that implementation was now fully underway, although some challenges remained.
He commended state governments that had implemented the agreement in full, expressing appreciation on behalf of ASUU members across the country.
“We finished renegotiations last year, and now the implementation has started fully. There are hiccups here and there, but I must say, on behalf of all Nigerian members of ASUU, that we are very grateful to especially state governments that have implemented our agreements in full,” he said.
The ASUU president, however, warned that the union would not suspend its ongoing strike at Imo State University until the state government addressed its demands.
On the 2027 general elections, Piwuna reaffirmed ASUU’s political neutrality, warning members, particularly union officials, against using the organisation’s name to endorse political parties or candidates.
He said members remained free to exercise their constitutional rights to vote and participate in the electoral process but stressed that such participation must not be carried out in the name of the union.
“As far as the 2027 elections are concerned, we will not ask our members to abdicate their constitutional rights to vote or participate in the process.
However, no member of our union, I repeat, no member of our union, has any permission to use the name of our union to support any candidate or any party,” he said.
The ASUU president warned that union officials found associating with political parties or individuals in a manner that compromised the organisation’s neutrality would face disciplinary action.
Earlier, the guest speaker, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, raised concerns about the proposed state police system, warning that its establishment could create additional security challenges if state governments lacked the financial capacity to maintain it.
Speaking on the theme: “Insecurities, Incumbency and Elections in Nigeria: The Role of State Police,” Lakemfa questioned the ability of state governments struggling to pay workers’ salaries and meet minimum wage obligations to effectively fund and manage their own police forces.
He also expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the proposed oversight mechanism for state police, arguing that political interference could undermine its independence, calling for comprehensive electoral reforms, condemning vote-buying, impunity and the lack of accountability among political actors.
“Everywhere there is vote-buying, and it is going on because nobody is punished for it,” he said.
In her goodwill message, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, commended ASUU for sustaining its tradition of recognising individuals who had contributed to the union’s mission and the development of the university system.
She described negotiation as the best approach to resolving disagreements between the government and the union, stressing the need to treat university workers with dignity.
Among those honoured were Prof Munzali Jibril, who played a significant role in the renegotiation process; the late Prof Nimi Briggs, who received a posthumous award; and Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.
The union also recognised the contributions of the late Chief Gamaliel Onosode and Chief Gilbert Chikelu, particularly their roles in supporting the union and facilitating earlier agreements.
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