The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a sharp warning to the Federal Government, threatening to initiate another nationwide strike if longstanding concerns in Nigeria’s higher education sector remain unresolved.
At a press conference held on the University of Jos campus, ASUU President Professor Christopher Piwuna said the union has been “pushed to the wall” after over two years of failed negotiations. He condemned the government’s proposed Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a loan scheme for university workers, dismissing it as a “poison chalice.” The union insisted its members require better wages through renegotiated agreements, not additional debt.
Piwuna accused the government of deliberate stalling in renegotiating the 2009 ASUU–FGN Agreement. He expressed frustration that despite the submission of the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed Report earlier this year, no action has been taken to implement its recommendations. The union further lamented that this lack of progress erodes trust and undermines the principle of collective bargaining, which Nigeria is committed to under ILO conventions.
Acknowledging an upcoming August 28 meeting with government officials, ASUU warned that time is running out. The draft agreement, set for discussion, addresses critical issues such as conditions of service, university autonomy, academic freedom, funding, and a review of regulatory bodies like JAMB and NUC.
ASUU also criticised the unchecked rise in the number of Nigerian universities, branding recent proliferation a form of political patronage that weakens educational standards. The union noted that Nigeria now has 339 universities—72 federal, 108 state, and 159 private—yet many institutions are ill-equipped and under-resourced.
After its recent NEC meeting, ASUU announced plans to organise rally demonstrations across university campuses next week as a warning ahead of potential strike action.
