The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned of a possible nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of failing to honour key parts of the 2025 agreement signed to stabilise Nigeria’s public university system.
ASUU said despite claims by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, that the agreement had been fully implemented, lecturers in federal and state universities were still facing unpaid allowances, salary arrears, pension challenges and poor welfare conditions.
Speaking at a press conference in Nasarawa State University, Keffi, on Monday, the Abuja Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Adamu Al-Abdullahi, said the reality in universities was completely different from the government’s public position.
According to him, five months after the widely celebrated agreement was signed following years of negotiations, many lecturers had yet to feel the promised improvements.
He accused the Federal Government of abandoning the implementation structure agreed during negotiations, allowing universities to interpret and apply the agreement differently.
Abdullahi explained that the monitoring committee meant to oversee proper execution of the deal was never inaugurated, creating room for confusion and selective implementation across institutions.
He alleged that some university authorities were now deciding which approved allowances to pay while ignoring others, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, Earned Academic Allowance and Professorial Allowance.
ASUU also criticised several state governors, accusing them of distancing themselves from the agreement despite being represented during negotiations with the union.
The union further raised concerns over unresolved welfare issues affecting lecturers nationwide, including outstanding arrears from the 25–35 per cent salary increase, unpaid promotion benefits, withheld salaries from the 2022 strike period, delayed pension payments and unremitted deductions.
Abdullahi stressed that neglecting the welfare of lecturers would continue to weaken Nigeria’s education system, insisting that no country could achieve meaningful development while academics were poorly treated.
He also faulted the Federal Government’s continued enforcement of the “No Work, No Pay” policy against lecturers who joined the 2022 industrial action.
According to him, lecturers remained engaged in research, academic writing and community service during strike periods, arguing that their responsibilities go beyond physical classroom presence.
ASUU equally accused pension authorities of frustrating retired lecturers through delays in pension harmonisation, while alleging that some state-owned universities still operate without effective pension structures for staff.
The union also expressed concern over what it described as increasing irregularities in university administration, particularly controversial appointments and the introduction of positions such as “Professor of Practice” and “Diaspora Professors.”
ASUU claimed some of the appointments were carried out outside established university procedures and without approval from governing councils or university senates.
The union warned that the situation was gradually weakening academic standards and allowing individuals with questionable qualifications to rise within the university system.
The latest warning from ASUU comes despite repeated assurances from the Federal Government that the 2025 agreement would permanently resolve issues surrounding university funding, lecturers’ welfare, earned allowances and the controversial IPPIS payment system.
Nigeria’s public universities have suffered repeated academic disruptions over the years due to prolonged ASUU strikes, largely caused by disagreements over the implementation of agreements reached with the government.
