The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, has accused the Federal Government of jeopardizing Nigeria’s education sector through its failure to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement, warning that the continued delay could spark another nationwide strike.
Speaking during a press conference at Benue State University, Makurdi, the Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Christian Opata, said the government’s slow pace and lack of sincerity in honoring its commitments were “undermining the nation’s future” and eroding the trust of academics in official negotiations.
“The Federal Government is paying lip service to education, especially tertiary education. The slow and deliberate delays in concluding renegotiations pose serious risks for society,” Opata declared.
He faulted the Education Minister’s recent contradictory remarks about the existence of an agreement with ASUU, describing them as evidence of inconsistency and bad faith.
“At first, he said there was no agreement, then admitted there was one, and later claimed all ASUU’s demands had been met. Such conflicting statements deepen mistrust and frustrate genuine dialogue,” he added.
Opata recalled that following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on October 21, 2025, ASUU suspended a warning strike to give room for further engagement with the government — despite what it described as “grossly inadequate offers.”
He said the one-month window granted to the Federal Government was an act of goodwill and a show of appreciation for the support received from students, parents, the media, and labour unions.
“It is now the government’s responsibility to take advantage of this opportunity and resolve all outstanding issues to avoid keeping our children out of school,” he warned.
However, ASUU expressed disappointment that the government’s latest salary proposal was “far below expectations” and even lower than what was rejected in 2022.
“The proposed increment is only a drop in the ocean. It cannot curb brain drain or improve the welfare of Nigerian academics,” the union stated, adding that partial payments of promotion arrears and third-party deductions should not be presented as new achievements.
Contrary to government claims of limited funds, ASUU cited rising federal and state revenues as proof that resources are available. According to data from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), state allocations grew from ₦3.92 trillion in 2022 to ₦5.81 trillion in 2024, while the federal share increased from ₦3.42 trillion to ₦4.65 trillion in the same period.
“The issue is not lack of funds but lack of political will. The government must stop treating education as a commercial good and see it as a vital social investment for national development,” the union stressed.
ASUU appealed to traditional rulers, civil society groups, students, and labour unions to mount pressure on the government to resolve the impasse and ensure that lecturers receive a living wage.
“Our take-home pay can no longer cover basic needs. A professor’s monthly salary cannot even buy a return ticket from Lagos to Abuja. Senior lecturers can’t afford to publish their research. This is unacceptable,” Opata lamented.
The union urged the Federal Government to use the remaining days of the one-month grace period to take decisive action and avoid plunging the university system into another round of industrial unrest.
The ASUU Nsukka Zone comprises eight institutions: Benue State University (BSU), Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi (FUAM), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUSHO), Kogi State University (KSU), Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Federal University Wukari (FUW), and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
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