ASUU Rejects Inclusion In Federal Govt’s New Loan Scheme

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected a plan to compel the union as a ‘guarantor’ of loans, under the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund scheme, recently introduced by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The union’s position was contained in its resolution, signed by the ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, following a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUS), from Saturday to Sunday, August 16-17, 2025.

ASUU noted that its rejection of the loan scheme for tertiary institution staff followed extensive deliberations by participants at the NEC meeting.

Piwuna said; “NEC deliberated extensively on the proposed Tertiary Institutions Support Fund. Consequently, NEC resolved to reject the ploy to conscript ASUU as “Guarantor” of loans the union knows nothing about and demands that ASUU be delisted from the process.”

The union also stated plans to initiate press conferences and protest actions across its branches on a date to be announced soon.

“NEC discussed the state of the struggle and government’s slow pace in addressing the issues in contention. Consequently, NEC resolved to organise protests across all the branches simultaneously on a fixed date,” the resolution read.

It added, “As part of the protest activities, press conferences would be held in all branches. The date for the said protests and press conferences would be communicated in due course.”

LEADERSHIP recalls that earlier in late July, the federal ministry of education announced a welfare-focused loan initiative for both academic and non-academic staff members of tertiary institutions, under the caveat that the initiative was aimed at promoting financial stability, improving quality of life and career advancement among tertiary institutions workers.