The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised fresh concerns over alleged mismanagement of funds and persistent governance weaknesses in some universities across Nigeria, warning that the situation is eroding accountability, institutional stability and academic standards.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Pinuwa, voiced the concerns on Wednesday in Abuja during the unveiling of the 2025 re-negotiated agreement between the Federal Government and the union.
Prof. Pinuwa noted that weak governance structures in several institutions had continued to hinder the effective utilisation of resources, despite the recognition of university autonomy in principle and its partial entrenchment in law.
According to him, the practical implementation of autonomy remains poor, allowing undue external interference in university administration. He cited the arbitrary dissolution of governing councils and interference in the appointment of vice-chancellors as recurring issues that undermine meritocracy and destabilise the university system.
The ASUU president warned that such actions often lead to internal conflicts, prolonged litigation and staff polarisation, all of which disrupt academic activities and weaken effective management.
He also expressed concern over what he described as the growing culture of prolonged acting vice-chancellorships in Nigerian universities, calling for closer scrutiny of governing councils and principal officers to protect institutional integrity.
On research funding, Prof. Pinuwa stressed that adequate investment in research and development was critical to the relevance and global competitiveness of Nigerian universities. He disclosed that research funding formed a major component of the 2025 ASUU–Federal Government agreement.
“Nigerian universities have suffered from inadequate research funding for a long time, and I am pleased that research and development funding is now a key part of the 2025 re-negotiated agreement,” he said.
He added that both parties had agreed that the National Research Council (NRC) Bill would be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration.
According to him, the proposed bill seeks to allocate at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to fund research, innovation and development across the country.
Prof. Pinuwa expressed optimism that members of the National Assembly would fast-track the passage of the bill in the interest of strengthening Nigeria’s research ecosystem and higher education sector.
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