ASUU Protests Sweep Campuses Ahead of Crucial Talks with Federal Government
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday staged nationwide protests across several campuses, intensifying pressure on the Federal Government just two days before a scheduled negotiation meeting in Abuja.
From the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, to the Federal University of Lafia, University of Ilorin, University of Calabar, Abia State University, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Plateau State University, University of Maiduguri, and Osun State University, lecturers marched with placards, chanted solidarity songs, and threatened a fresh strike if their demands continued to be ignored.
The union’s grievances remain unchanged: full implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, release of three and a half months of withheld salaries, payment of 25–35 per cent outstanding arrears, settlement of promotion arrears, revitalisation funding for universities, rejection of the government’s proposed tertiary staff loan scheme, and adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in place of IPPIS to safeguard institutional autonomy.
At OAU, ASUU Chairperson, Prof. Tony Odiwe, lamented that lecturers have remained on the same salary structure since 2009, accusing government of deliberately stalling on the report of the Yayale Ahmed renegotiation committee submitted in February 2025. “If industrial peace collapses on our campuses, the government will bear full responsibility,” he warned.
Similarly, at FUOYE, ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, declared that patience had reached its limit: “Our members teach on empty stomachs, live in debt, and can no longer afford basic needs. If government prefers provocation to responsibility, the consequences will be theirs alone.”
In Lafia, Branch Chairperson, Sunday Orinya, accused government of deceit and neglect, stressing that many lecturers had died from hardship and pauperisation. His demands echoed those across campuses: release of withheld salaries, clearance of promotion arrears, and proper funding of universities.
At Plateau State University, the protest drew unusual support as Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shedrack Best, and ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, joined in condemning poor salaries, unpaid allowances, and enforcement of IPPIS, warning that the autonomy of Nigerian universities was “under siege.”
In Sokoto, the protests brought together academics from three universities. UDUS Chairman, Prof. Nurudeen Almustapha, described the government’s proposed loan scheme as a “poisoned chalice” and called for immediate implementation of the Yayale Ahmed report.
At UNILORIN, lecturers carried placards with inscriptions such as “University workers are not slaves” and “Honour your agreement with ASUU.” Branch Chair, Dr. Alex Akanmu, argued that government’s failure to honour agreements had deepened poverty among academics and pushed the system toward collapse.
At FUTA, Branch Chair, Prof. Pius Mogaji, criticised what he termed the government’s “reckless indifference” to the union’s demands, while at UNICAL, Chairperson, Peter Ubi, accused authorities of destroying trust and forcing lecturers into debt. In Maiduguri, protesters denounced poor retirement benefits, unpaid arrears, and even the renaming of the institution after former President Muhammadu Buhari without due consultation.
Lecturers at Abia State University in Umuahia rejected the staff loan scheme, citing unpaid salaries, while at UNIOSUN, Chairperson, Dr. Wende Olaosebikan, accused government of victimising lecturers and failing to honour salary increments.
Across the board, the message was clear: if Thursday’s meeting with the Federal Government fails to produce concrete action, the fragile calm on campuses may soon give way to another nationwide strike.
