ASUU Raises Alarm Over Delays in Renegotiation With Federal Government
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed concern over the Federal Government’s delay in concluding the ongoing renegotiation of its agreement with the union.
In a statement issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Taraba State, ASUU said members were briefed on the latest offers from the government’s negotiating team but noted little progress has been made.
The union recalled that it suspended its recent warning strike to allow for further dialogue, acknowledging the support it received from students, parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and other concerned Nigerians. A one-month grace period was granted to the government to conclude the renegotiations in good faith.
However, the NEC expressed disappointment over what it described as the government’s “back-and-forth” approach to the talks, warning that continued indecision could have serious implications for the nation’s tertiary education system.
“Members of the NEC have regrettably observed, with consternation, government’s failure to prioritise education because it perceives education as a commercial good that must be self-sustaining instead of a social good that guarantees sustainable national development,” the statement read in part.
ASUU also criticised what it called the insensitivity of government officials, accusing them of undermining the negotiation process through misrepresentation and selective implementation of previous agreements.
The union described the partial payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2017 and the release of third-party deductions as mere “confidence-boosting gestures” rather than genuine solutions to the core issues.
Two weeks after suspending its warning strike, ASUU said it reviewed the government’s progress and rejected the proposed salary increment, describing it as inadequate to address the worsening brain drain in Nigerian universities.
While acknowledging some progress on non-monetary aspects of the agreement, the NEC stressed that issues relating to salaries and conditions of service remain unresolved and require urgent attention.
The union emphasised that the remaining days of the one-month negotiation window should be used judiciously to reach a comprehensive agreement that would improve the welfare of academics and the stability of the university system.
Contrary to government claims of economic constraints, ASUU argued that both federal and state revenues have increased significantly in recent years. Citing data from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), the union noted that state revenues rose from ₦3.92 trillion in 2022 to ₦5.81 trillion in 2024, while federal revenues increased from ₦3.42 trillion to ₦4.65 trillion within the same period.
“ASUU insists that the problem is not a lack of funds but a lack of political will,” the statement added.
The union called on traditional rulers, community leaders, students, the NLC, and civil society organisations to continue pressuring the government to act responsibly and ensure that Nigerian lecturers are paid a living wage.