Nigeria’s fragile peace in the university system may soon be tested again, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has cautioned that unresolved disputes and salary delays could trigger another nationwide strike.
At a press briefing in Ibadan, Zonal Coordinator Prof. Biodun Olaniran voiced the frustrations of lecturers who, he said, have been remarkably patient while waiting for the government to fulfill its promises. That patience, he warned, is running thin.
According to Olaniran, many of the issues dragging since 2009 remain unsettled. These include the long-stalled renegotiation of the ASUU-FGN Agreement, revitalisation funding, withheld salaries, Earned Academic Allowances, and promotion arrears. He stressed that even the Yayale Ahmed panel report—submitted earlier this year with clear recommendations—has been ignored.
“The so-called peace you see in our campuses rests on our restraint, not on government action,” Olaniran said, accusing authorities of deliberately stalling with endless dialogue while neglecting real implementation.
The union expressed anger over what it described as poor funding priorities, noting that the 2025 budget allocated only seven percent to education—far below UNESCO’s benchmark of 15–26 percent. It also condemned deteriorating infrastructure, ill-equipped laboratories, and hostel conditions that fail to meet global standards.
On autonomy, ASUU criticised the unlawful dissolution of governing councils and the imposition of political appointees, warning that such practices erode the Senate’s powers and threaten academic independence.
Equally troubling, the union pointed to the continued use of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), which it described as fraudulent, citing unremitted deductions and promotion arrears pending for over four years.
ASUU also accused some universities—such as LASU, Kogi State University, and FUTO—of victimising union leaders through trumped-up charges and illegal withholding of pay.
The lecturers are demanding the immediate release of their withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries from the 2022 strike, as well as full implementation of the wage award announced by the government.
While insisting that lecturers are not eager for another crisis, Olaniran warned that continued neglect could force the union’s hand:
“Even a goat reacts when pushed to the wall. If the government refuses to act, the peace in our universities cannot last.”
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