Follow Us on Google
By Adebowale Johnson
A public affairs analyst, Mazi Cyril Okemuo, has said that the government’s failure to honour its agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is a betrayal of trust, education and campaign promises.
He said, “For decades, Nigeria’s education sector has been troubled by repeated industrial actions led by ASUU), mostly due to the federal government’s failure to fulfill agreements, especially the 2009 ASUU/Federal Government Agreement.”
Okemuo, who is the chairman, G-Friends Thrift Society, argued that the ongoing breach of trust has disrupted academic calendars, frustrated students, and eroded confidence in governance.
He stated: “The 2009 ASUU/Federal Government agreement aimed to solve important issues in Nigeria’s public universities, such as proper funding, better working conditions, university independence, and earned academic allowances (EAA). Even after signing, successive governments, including the current one, have failed to implement key parts, leading to repeated strikes.
“The government’s inaction on promised revitalisation funds, unpaid salary arrears, and allowances has worsened ASUU’s grievances, with the union arguing that the university system is near collapse. For example, the government promised to release N50 billion for EAA backlogs and N29 billion for 2025 payments, but these funds are still unpaid.
“Also, a promised revitalisation fund of N150 billion due by April 2025 has seen no progress, five months after the December 2024 renegotiation, according to ASUU. The enforcement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), despite ASUU’s preference for the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), further undermines university independence, violating the 2009 agreement.
“During his 2022 presidential campaign, Tinubu, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), clearly promised that university strikes would not happen under his administration. He stressed the importance of prioritising public university needs to keep academic calendars stable, a promise that resonated with students, parents, and educators tired of disruptions.
“However, two years into his presidency, this promise remains unfulfilled. ASUU’s Lagos Zone Coordinator, Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, said, in August 2025, that Tinubu’s government has shown no real effort to meet the union’s demands, calling the government’s actions a ‘clear betrayal’ of its campaign commitments.
“The threat of a ‘mother of all strikes’ in August 2025, as warned by ASUU’s University of Calabar chapter, highlights the government’s failure to deliver on Tinubu’s pledge. Issues like unpaid 25–35% wage awards, three months’ salary arrears, promotion arrears over four years, and unremitted third-party deductions remain unresolved, pushing lecturers to the edge. ASUU’s Akure Zone Coordinator, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, pointed out that the government’s inaction has tested the union’s patience, directly opposing Tinubu’s promise of a strike-free tenure.”
Other News
He stated that the pattern of strikes is evidence of systemic problems.
“The government’s failure to honour ASUU agreements predates Tinubu’s leadership, but continues under him, contradicting his campaign rhetoric. ASUU’s 2010 strike, lasting over five months, was due to the government’s failure to implement the 2009 agreement, especially regarding funding and allowances. This created lasting distrust in negotiations. In 2013, ASUU shut down universities for over five months because of unpaid earned allowances and inadequate revitalisation funds, as outlined in the 2009 agreement and a 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“The government’s inaction prolonged the disruption. The 2020 strike, which is the longest in Nigeria’s history, lasting nine months, was driven by non-implementation of the 2009 agreement, unpaid allowances, and the enforcement of IPPIS. The prolonged closure left students idle, some turning to crime or prostitution.
“From February to October 2022, ASUU’s strike was fueled by unpaid salaries from the 2020 strike, failure to implement the 2009 agreement, and the government’s creation of alternative unions like NAMDA and CONUA to weaken ASUU. The strike only ended after court intervention, but core issues like unpaid balances remain unresolved. In August 2025, ASUU warned of a possible nationwide strike, citing the government’s failure to sign and implement the renegotiated 2009 agreement. Protests in Ibadan and other campuses pointed to unresolved issues like unpaid salaries, promotion arrears, and revitalisation funds. The union’s frustration shows the government’s neglect of Tinubu’s campaign promise to prevent strikes.”
Okemuo explained the harmful effects of broken promises. “The government’s failure to fulfill ASUU agreements has harmed Nigeria’s education system. Students face disrupted schedules, delayed graduations, and reduced learning standards. A 2019 study at the University of Ibadan found that ASUU strikes negatively impacted academic quality and student performance, hindering university progress. Teachers, meanwhile, suffer from low morale, stagnant salaries, and brain drain, with no salary review in over 15 years. The government’s focus on other sectors—such as a N5 trillion bank bailout in 2008 and N100 billion for Nollywood—demonstrates misplaced priorities.
“Tinubu’s campaign promise to end strikes raised high hopes, but his government’s inaction has worsened public disappointment. ASUU’s Nsukka Zone Coordinator, Raphael Amokaha, stated in October 2024, that the government’s ‘delusional sense of conquest’ over the union illustrates its failure to honour agreements. The government’s pattern of requesting already-submitted information to delay action further erodes trust, as Prof. Odukoya pointed out.”
Okemuo opined that the nation’s credibility and education are at risk.
“Nigeria’s repeated failure to uphold ASUU agreements and Tinubu’s unmet promise to prevent strikes reveal a country struggling to keep its commitments. The government’s ‘fire brigade’ approach—signing agreements only to abandon them—has been consistent, risking further chaos in education and betraying Nigerians who voted for Tinubu on promises of stability. As ASUU warned in August 2025, the threat of a strike could plunge the education system into chaos if the government doesn’t act quickly.”
Calling for accountability, he stated: “To honour both the 2009 agreement and Tinubu’s campaign promise the government must prioritise education by releasing revitalisation funds, clearing salary and allowance arrears, and adopting UTAS to respect university independence”.
