- ASUU expressed concern over what it described as the poor and inconsistent implementation of the agreement
- The union also questioned the proposed $500 million funding arrangement, raising concerns over the possibility of external borrowing
- ASUU called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that outstanding welfare issues are addressed
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned that Nigerian public universities may witness another round of industrial action if the Federal Government and state governments fail to fully implement the agreement reached with the union in December 2025.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the warning followed ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting held at Modibbo Adama University in Yola on May 9 and 10, 2026.
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In a statement released on Monday by the union’s president, Chris Piwuna, ASUU expressed concern over what it described as the poor and inconsistent implementation of the agreement signed with the Federal Government.
The union explained that it had remained silent since the agreement was officially unveiled in January 2026 but decided to speak after reviewing the level of compliance and unresolved issues affecting university lecturers nationwide.
According to ASUU, the progress and optimism generated after the signing of the agreement were gradually fading due to delays and failures in implementation.
The union blamed the situation partly on the failure to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which was expected to oversee the execution of the agreement.
ASUU accused both federal and state authorities of implementing parts of the agreement in an irregular and selective manner, noting that only a few state governments had complied fully with the terms.
The union also alleged that some federal university administrators had selectively applied provisions relating to Consolidated Academic Allowances, Earned Academic Allowances and Professorial Allowances instead of integrating them properly into the Consolidated Academic Salary Structure.
ASUU further criticised several state governments for allegedly refusing to honour the agreement despite participating in the negotiation process that lasted from 2017 to 2025.
On research funding, the union faulted the Federal Government’s proposed National Research Council and the recently announced National Research and Innovation Development Fund.
According to ASUU, the proposals did not align with the agreement, which recommended allocating at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product to research, innovation and development.
The union also questioned the proposed $500 million funding arrangement, raising concerns over the possibility of external borrowing.
ASUU listed several unresolved welfare issues affecting lecturers, including unpaid salary arrears, promotion arrears, unremitted deductions, salary shortfalls linked to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, and withheld salaries from the 2022 strike action.
The union also expressed concern over delays in pension payments for retired lecturers, especially in state-owned universities, while accusing the National Pension Commission of delaying pension harmonisation.
ASUU called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that outstanding welfare issues are addressed.
Beyond welfare concerns, the union criticised the reversal of the mother-tongue policy in early childhood education and opposed plans to establish a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria under a transnational education arrangement.
ASUU argued that such moves could weaken local tertiary institutions and undermine academic independence.
The union also rejected compulsory enrolment of lecturers into the Nigeria Education Repository Databank, describing it as a threat to academic autonomy and data privacy laws.
It additionally faulted proposals to scrap some university courses considered irrelevant, insisting that humanities and social science disciplines remain important for national development and innovation.
ASUU warned that growing frustration among lecturers over unresolved issues could trigger fresh industrial unrest if governments fail to act promptly.
The union urged Nigerians to pressure authorities at all levels to honour the agreement and resolve outstanding matters, adding that its NEC would reconvene soon to assess developments and determine the next line of action.
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