The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike unless the Federal Government honours the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement.
ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, delivered the warning at a news conference in Abuja on Friday, urging the government to fulfil its promises and address the deteriorating state of Nigerian universities.
Piwuna revealed that nine critical issues remain unresolved, including the stalled renegotiation process since 2017. He accused the government of withholding salaries from the 2022 strike and failing to pay entitlements tied to the controversial Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
He criticised the government for delaying the release of revitalisation funds and earned academic allowances, despite repeated assurances. He also noted that the government has yet to fulfil its pledge to inject ₦150 billion into universities and adjust irregular allowances by 2026.
Piwuna condemned the marginalisation of ASUU members at state universities such as Kogi State University and Lagos State University. He accused authorities there of victimising lecturers, denying salaries, and fostering job insecurity, all of which continue to erode staff morale.
He further denounced political interference in the selection of university leaders, citing Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the University of Abuja as examples. According to him, political and economic interests are turning universities into battlegrounds—an outcome he called unacceptable.
Calling for a national rebirth through education, Piwuna proposed a national education summit to address funding, autonomy, and academic welfare. He emphasised that education empowers citizens, drives innovation, and instils values, asserting that no nation can develop without it.
Piwuna reaffirmed ASUU’s commitment to reforming Nigerian universities and called on patriotic Nigerians and international allies to support their cause. “Our universities should serve as centres for solving national challenges,” he said.
While expressing openness to dialogue, Piwuna warned that ASUU would not tolerate further erosion of its rights.
