ASUU warns of strike over poor implementation of 2025 Agreement

Education

YOLA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that poor implementation of its 2025 agreement with the Federal Government could trigger fresh industrial action across public universities in Nigeria.

ASUU President, Mr Christopher Piwuna, issued the warning on Monday during a news conference held after the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola.

Piwuna expressed concern over what he described as the Federal Government’s failure to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee provided for in the agreement signed with ASUU in December 2025.

According to him, the delay is already affecting the smooth implementation of the agreement and creating inconsistencies in its execution.

“Government’s failure to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee is undermining the smooth execution of the 2025 agreement.

“The absence of the committee has created room for distorted and uncoordinated implementation of the agreement,” he said.

The ASUU president warned that the gains recorded during negotiations could be reversed if the Federal Government failed to fully implement all aspects of the agreement.

He alleged that some government agencies and university authorities were selectively implementing parts of the agreement, particularly in relation to the payment of lecturers’ allowances.

Piwuna also accused some vice-chancellors of failing to fully implement agreed welfare packages for academic staff.

He further stated that some state governments that participated in the negotiations had yet to implement the salary component of the agreement for lecturers in state-owned universities.

According to him, unresolved issues affecting lecturers include withheld salaries, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls and unremitted third-party deductions.

“The continued delay in addressing these issues is worsening frustration among lecturers in public universities,” he said.

Piwuna called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure all outstanding welfare issues were addressed in order to sustain industrial harmony in the university system.

The ASUU president also criticised the proposed National Research and Innovation Development Fund announced by the Federal Government, saying it fell short of the provisions contained in the agreement reached with the union.

He explained that the agreement recommended allocating at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to research funding.

Piwuna further rejected the Federal Government’s proposed establishment of a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria under the Transnational Education framework.

He described the proposal as “neo-colonial” and warned that it could undermine Nigeria’s tertiary education system and local universities.

The ASUU president also opposed plans to scrap some university courses considered irrelevant, insisting that every academic programme contributes to societal and economic development.

He disclosed that ASUU would convene an emergency NEC meeting in the coming weeks to review developments and determine its next line of action. (NAN).