Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) don fault Federal Government and state governments over the continued non-payment of three-and-a-half months’ salaries wey dem withhold from university lecturers, plus the uneven implementation of the December 2025 agreement with the union.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclose this one while he dey speak on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu. He say the union bin expect say the agreement wey dem reach with Federal Government in December 2025 go bring greater stability to university system, improve lecturers’ welfare and address longstanding challenges wey public universities dey face.
He however express disappointment say several provisions of the agreement either dem no implement or dem dey implement inconsistently by Federal and state governments. He quote: ‘It’s really painful to have a conversation on issues like this. Our expectation, when we signed an agreement in December 2025, was that we are going at this time to talk about the progress that we have made, the stability in the system and concern ourselves with issues that affect Nigerians.’
Piwuna talk say the agreement cover improved salaries, funding for public universities and research support, among other provisions, but implementation don fall short of wetin the union expect.
The ASUU president also raise concern over the continued withholding of part of the salaries owed lecturers from the previous administration. He say three-and-a-half months out of the seven-and-a-half months withheld still outstanding. According to him, Federal Government don pay four months of the withheld salaries, leaving balance of three-and-a-half months. He say the outstanding salaries remain major source of concern for affected lecturers, and the union expect government to resolve the matter.
Beyond the withheld salaries, Piwuna say some universities still dey face difficulties implementing the new salary structure, while lecturers for some institutions remain uncertain about payment of their full entitlements. He quote: ‘As we stand now, funding is not properly being done according to what was agreed to. Individual universities have to embark on strike before salaries are being paid. Some universities are cut off from the new salary structure.’
The ASUU president say the implementation challenge no restricted to Federal Government alone. He note say state governments also get obligations towards universities under their control. He say while some state governments don commence implementation of the December agreement, others never fully comply, and this dey cause disparities in conditions of service across public universities.
Piwuna cite Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, as one of the governors wey don commence implementation of the agreement. He quote: ‘Only Governor Alex Otti of the South-Eastern part has implemented it.’ He urge other governments to fulfil their commitments, stressing say ASUU continue to engage relevant government officials through meetings and correspondence rather than immediately resorting to industrial action.
He talk say: ‘We have engaged them; the Minister of Education at federal level, we engaged Senator Larry Tejuosho, the chairman of the implementation committee monitoring the Federal Government agreement. We have reminded them to do the needful.’
On funding for education, the ASUU president say inadequate financing remain one of the major challenges confronting Nigeria public university system, particularly for research, infrastructure and human capital development. He call for sustained investment in education, arguing say adequate funding essential if Nigerian universities go produce research and innovation wey go compete for global knowledge economy.
Piwuna say governments suppose work towards dedicating up to 26 per cent of their annual budgets to education, describe such spending as investment in national development rather than expenditure wey dem go continue to reduce because of competing demands. He quote: ‘Every government should at least aim to supply or to fund their budget or dedicate their budget up to 26 per cent to education, and Nigeria is not an exception.’
He also disclose say ASUU compromise during negotiations with Federal Government by agreeing to a 15 per cent education budget benchmark, while recognising the financial difficulties involved in achieving the higher target immediately. He quote: ‘So while negotiating with the government, we told the government to reduce the budget to 15 per cent and they agreed. Although it may be difficult, it can be done incrementally.’
Piwuna say the agreement reached in December 2025 contain specific provisions for funding public universities, improving lecturers’ salaries and establishing mechanisms to strengthen research. He quote: ‘The agreement, when we signed it, had provision for funding for public universities. It had provisions for improved salary, and it had provision for research council, amongst others.’
He stress say stronger investment in research necessary for Nigerian universities to contribute meaningfully to national development and generate knowledge wey go compete beyond the country. According to him, underfunding the education sector get implications not only for universities but also for research, innovation, human-capital development and the wider economy. He quote: ‘We all know the value of education and we expect our leaders to carry out policies and actions that will promote education.’
Piwuna say ASUU remain committed to dialogue with Federal and state governments but urge authorities to address the outstanding issues surrounding lecturers’ salaries, the implementation of the December 2025 agreement and funding for public universities.
