Lecturers under aegis Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Ibadan (UI) and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, on Tuesday embarked on peaceful protest against delayed signing of renegotiated agreements with the Union by the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government.
The Union said signing the agreement reached with the Federal Government’s team could prevent another industrial strike in Nigeria’s public Universities.
Chairman of the UI chapter of ASUU, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi, was joined by Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Oyo State, Comrade Kayode Martins, while the protest held by the Emmanuel Alayande University of Education was led by its chairman, Dr. Michael Bamidele Ojo.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the lecturers went around the campuses, sensitising the university community on the probability of another industrial action if the government fails to sign the agreements already reached with the Union on August 28, 2025.
The lecturers who sang solidarity songs during the peaceful protest, accused President Tinubu of forgetting his campaign promises, demanding that welfare of university lecturers should attract his attention and urgent intervention.
While addressing journalists at the gate of the institution, Dr Afolabi said the federal government has pushed lecturers to the wall.
“There has been inadequate progress in the negotiation between the federal government of Nigeria and the Union in the past 16 years and this has contributed to low morale and brain drain while the best brains have decided to stay from the profession due to the poor remuneration and conditions of service,” he said.
Afolabi called on Nigerians, including opinion leaders, religious and traditional authorities, civil society organisations, parents and stakeholders to prevail on the federal government to sign the re-negotiated agreement.
“Only through this action can the Tinubu administration prevent an impending nationwide industrial crisis across university campuses and fulfil the promises made during the election campaign,” he stressed.
Also, ASUU chairman at the Emmanuel Alayande University of Education Oyo, Dr Ojo stated that the Union can no longer allow the welfare of its members “to be subjected to the delay tactics of this Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government”
ASUU therefore called on “all genuine patriots to prevail on Nigeria’s governments, including the university administrations to address all lingering labour issues in the Nigerian University system to avert another looming industrial crisis if the government at all levels fails to address these concerns.
“ASUU may be forced to take industrial action which could disrupt the academic calendar and have reaching consequences for the university community.”
Speaking at the rally, Oyo State NLC chairman, Kayode Martins urged President Tinubu to sign the agreements and commence implementation without delay.
“Those who lay the golden eggs must be preserved, they are the molders and builders of our destinies.
“Education should be given appropriate attention because that is what drives development in any nation. We are talking of 2009 agreements unimplemented and today, political office holders are agitating for more salaries when professors are less paid. This should not be. We are beckoning on our leaders to save us if indeed they have a mind for the masses”.
