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University teachers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may soon embark on strike if the Federal Government fails to fully implement its 2025 agreement with the union over staff welfare issues and other matters. The resolution to embark on industrial action was reached at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union held at Modibbo Adama University, Yola. According to the President of ASUU, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, the unresolved issues include the withheld three-and-half months’ salaries, promotion arrears, and shortfalls in salaries arising from the use of IPPIS platform, unremitted third-party deductions and arrears of 25-35 per cent wage award.
The 2025 agreement, which was a renegotiation of the 2009 FG/ASUU pact, provided for improved welfare of varsity teachers, adequate funding of universities and stability in the nation’s university system. The agreement provides for 40 per cent upward review of the emoluments of university academic staff in federal tertiary institutions with effect from January 1, 2026, following the approval by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wage Commission (NSIWC).
Interestingly, the ASUU leadership has appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and all stakeholders in the education sector to prevail on the federal government to fully implement the new agreement and resolve other outstanding issues with the union forthwith. We urge the government to do the needful and avert the impending industrial action in the universities over welfare of university teachers and funding of universities.
We say this because any industrial action by university teachers will disrupt the nation’s university calendar. It may also lead to extension of the duration of academic programmes of students in the universities. It is commendable that the universities have enjoyed relative industrial peace in recent times. Therefore, the federal government should still dialogue with ASUU leaders to settle all outstanding matters. Let the government be willing to honour the agreement entered with the varsity teachers.
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The government must not renege on the agreement with ASUU. The failure to honour the agreement entered into with the university teachers does not portray the government in a good light. It also does not show good intentions on the part of the government. If the government entered into an agreement with ASUU, it follows that it must honour that agreement without letting the lecturers embark on a strike and cripple academic activities in universities.
When the federal government and ASUU entered into the agreement last December, many Nigerians applauded the government for a prompt resolution of the crisis rocking universities across the country. But unfortunately, five months after the agreement, the government has shockingly failed to fully honour it. The government’s failure to honour the agreement could be disastrous for the relative peace and continuity that the universities across the country have witnessed recently. Over the years, frequent strikes by ASUU have lowered the quality of teaching and learning in the nation’s universities. The industrial actions have harmed the varsities in so many ways. Therefore, the government must do everything to avert any industrial action by ASUU.
The demands by ASUU are genuine and deserve urgent attention. They are in tandem with what obtains in many universities across Africa and other parts of the world. Universities in Nigeria should operate in line with global standards. When ASUU goes on strike, the country loses in so many ways. Parents are faced with the uphill task of monitoring their children who idle away at home. Many times, while the strike by their lecturers last, some of the students get involved in crimes, including internet fraud, armed robbery, gambling and drug abuse. Also, the ladies among them sometimes get pregnant and drop out of school. Let the varsity academic calendar be predictable like those of universities abroad. The duration of academic programmes should not be disrupted on account of ASUU strike. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the universities maintain a steady, uninterrupted academic calendar.
On the other hand, ASUU should also explore other avenues to resolve staff welfare and funding issues without strike. Let ASUU resume dialogue with the government and resolve all lingering matters. Frequent strikes by varsity teachers will weaken the system. A recent report showed that Nigerian students are the third largest out-bound students in the world, behind China and India. This shows that Nigerian students still excel in foreign universities in spite of poor funding of education at home. It is expected that the government will rise to the occasion and ensure that ASUU does not embark on the looming strike. President Bola Tinubu should keep to his promise that ASUU would not go on strike under his watch. Therefore, he must avert the impending strike by fully implementing the 2025 agreement with ASUU.
