The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Branch, has reaffirmed its resolve to strengthen nation-building through quality teaching, impactful research, and community service.
Speaking during the 2025 ASUU Day celebration held on Thursday at the Governor Peter Mbah Auditorium, ESUT main campus, Agbani, Acting Chairperson, Comrade Andrew Apeh, urged members to remain firm in their pursuit of excellence and improved welfare.
“As academic staff, we must continue to strive for excellence, inspiring our students and contributing to the growth of our nation,” Apeh said.
He called for unity among members and renewed commitment to the union’s welfare struggle, insisting that their demands must no longer be trivialised.
“Our welfare is our fundamental right, and it’s time we demand it be addressed without politicization,” he stated.
Citing Nelson Mandela’s words — “The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail” — Apeh encouraged members to stand firm in demanding their rights.
He lamented that ESUT lecturers earn far less than their peers in other state and federal universities.
“It is painful to watch our counterparts receive double our salary for nearly a year now, while we struggle to survive because our paltry pay no longer reflects the reality of today’s economy,” he said.
Apeh demanded immediate implementation of the 25% and 35% wage award increments, a comprehensive salary review based on national benchmarks, and payment of the long-delayed Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) pending since 2008.
“We can’t wait any longer. This is an urgent call to the government and ESUT management to address our special plight,” he added.
“We Teach Like Philosophers but Are Paid Like Apprentices” — NSUK Chair
In his remarks, the Chairperson of ASUU, Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK), Comrade Zubairu Abdulmumini Loko, praised the union’s resilience, describing it as “unbroken, unbent, and unbowed for decades.”
He highlighted the harsh realities faced by Nigerian academics, noting that their contributions rarely match their working conditions.
“We teach like philosophers but are paid like apprentices. We produce research that transforms nations, yet struggle with facilities that belong in museums,” Loko said.
He stressed that academic empowerment requires:
- Salaries that last the month
- Research grants that support meaningful work
- Infrastructure that preserves academic dignity
- University autonomy free from political interference
“No nation jokes with its academics and expects serious development,” he warned.
On wellness, Loko urged members to prioritise their health.
“You cannot lead a revolution with blood pressure higher than school fees. Wellness is not weakness; it is strategy,” he said.
Professors Must Speak Truth to Power
Earlier, National Resource Person, Comrade Ofukwu Raphael Agbo, criticised many Nigerian professors for being silent in the face of injustice, noting that fear and politicization have weakened their voice.
“ASUU remains the last moral firewall protecting Nigerian universities from total collapse. Someone must speak truth to power, even when power pretends to be deaf,” he said.
Event Highlights
The event featured medical screenings, health talks, panel discussions, and interactive sessions. It also included:
- Recognition of retired and deceased members
- Celebration of newly promoted professors
- Honouring of former ASUU-ESUT leaders
A breakdown presented at the ceremony showed:
- 27 ESUT ASUU members have not received their ₦400,000 retirement benefits
- Families of 16 deceased members are still owed ₦400,000 death benefits
The union vowed to continue pushing until all outstanding entitlements are fully paid.
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