ASUU Threatens Fresh Shutdown Of Universities Over Unimplemented FG Agreement

ASUU Threatens Fresh Shutdown Of Universities Over Unimplemented FG Agreement
Union accused government of failing to implement 2025 agreement fully.
Lecturers’ allowances, salary arrears and deductions remain unpaid nationwide.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, on Thursday warned Nigerians to hold the Federal Government responsible if public universities are shut down again over the failure to fully implement agreements reached with the union.

The warning was issued during a press conference held at Benue State University in Makurdi, where ASUU leaders accused the government of failing to honour key aspects of the December 2025 agreement signed with the union.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Nsukka Zone, Christian Opata, alongside the union’s National Investment Officer, Celesine Aguoru, said the agreement, which was expected to take effect from January 2026, had not been fully implemented.

Opata stated that although some components had been partially addressed, several critical welfare issues affecting lecturers remained unresolved due to inadequate financial commitment from the government.

According to him, outstanding issues include the Consolidated Tools Allowances, Earned Academic Allowances, and Professorial Allowances, which have yet to be incorporated into the Consolidated Academic Staff Salary Scale.

He also lamented that several arrears owed to lecturers had remained unpaid despite the agreement between both parties.

“As the time of holding this press conference, arrears arising from the 25-35% salary award, promotion arrears, unpaid third-party deductions including check-off dues, cooperative contributions and pension remittances, salary shortfalls linked to the introduction of IPPIS, as well as the withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries resulting from the 2022 ASUU industrial action foisted on us by government remains unsettled as our members are yet to be paid,” Opata said.

The ASUU leader further accused the Federal Government of failing to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee provided for in the 2025 agreement.

According to him, the committee was expected to ensure proper implementation of the agreement and prevent unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Opata also criticised the proposed National Research Council announced by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, saying ASUU was excluded from the process despite being a major stakeholder in university research development.

He maintained that policies affecting research and higher education should involve academic unions to ensure effectiveness and transparency.

Speaking further, ASUU National Investment Officer, Celesine Aguoru, warned that the union should not be blamed if another industrial action occurs in public universities.

“If an agreement signed by both parties cannot be respected by the government, Nigerians should hold the government responsible if universities are shut down,” Aguoru stated.

He stressed that the union was not eager to embark on another strike but could not continue to watch agreements affecting lecturers and public universities being ignored.

Aguoru called on parents, students and other stakeholders to pressure the Federal Government into implementing the agreement before the situation worsens.

The warning comes despite repeated assurances by the current administration that it would end the recurring industrial crises in Nigeria’s public university system.

ASUU Threatens Fresh Shutdown Of Universities Over Unimplemented FG Agreement

ASUU has repeatedly accused successive governments of failing to honour agreements reached with the union, leading to several prolonged strikes that have disrupted academic activities across the country.