The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate release of the N150 billion revitalization fund promised to public universities, along with the conclusion of the long-overdue renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.
In his first official press conference since assuming office, ASUU’s new National President, Comrade Chris Piwuna, criticized the government’s continued failure to fulfill its commitments to the nation’s public university system. Speaking in Abuja on Friday, Piwuna decried what he described as the government’s lip service to education and its apparent disregard for the welfare of academic workers.
He said the delay in honoring agreements—particularly the promised release of revitalization funds and the payment of three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike—was unacceptable and could lead to another nationwide shutdown of public universities if not urgently addressed.
“The government agreed to release the N150 billion within four weeks from April 2025. Yet, we are still waiting,” Piwuna stated. He also cited the unresolved recommendations of the Yayale Ahmed Committee, which reviewed the December 2024 report from the Nimi Briggs-led Renegotiation Committee. According to him, five months later, the union is still in limbo, awaiting the signing of a new agreement.
Delegates at ASUU’s recent National Delegates Congress, he said, had carefully assessed the government’s posture and expressed deep concern that almost no progress had been made over the past two years. Piwuna warned of an impending crisis in the university system unless the government urgently addressed key demands, including the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, the payment of promotion arrears, and withheld salaries of sabbatical and part-time lecturers excluded from the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS).
He also condemned the alleged victimization of ASUU leaders and members in some state-owned universities and called on state governors and university visitors to restore industrial peace by resolving lingering issues and reinstating affected staff.
Beyond the union’s demands, Piwuna painted a grim picture of the nation’s broader challenges. He said Nigeria continues to struggle with political instability, insecurity, poverty, and economic uncertainty—more than 60 years after gaining independence. “From Boko Haram in the Northeast to kidnappings in the South, no region is immune. The deepening climate of fear hampers development and widens national divisions,” he said.
Piwuna emphasized the centrality of education in national development, warning that the ongoing mismanagement of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) posed a serious threat to the future of the university system. He cited the recent diversion of TETFund resources into the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund) as a prime example of misapplication.
“If given the attention it deserves, Nigeria’s universities could become the solution ground for our national problems. ASUU remains committed to fighting for improved funding and revitalization. We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to support our cause,” he said.
He also criticized ongoing violations of university autonomy, pointing to crises at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the University of Abuja, Alvan Ikoku University, and Admiralty University. He blamed external interference from government agencies, including the Federal Character Commission and the National Assembly, in the selection of university principal officers.
According to Piwuna, the continued use of the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS)—a variant of the controversial IPPIS—and the Treasury Single Account (TSA) system for university finances are contrary to prior agreements with ASUU.
“Universities are gradually being turned into political battlegrounds. We cannot allow vested interests to hijack the administration of our institutions,” he warned.
While ASUU reiterated its openness to dialogue, Piwuna made it clear that the union would not continue to tolerate the erosion of members’ rights or the government’s repeated failure to meet its obligations.
“If urgent actions are not taken, the country should prepare for yet another round of industrial unrest,” he concluded.
