The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has elected Professor Chris Piwuna as its new national president. Piwuna, a Professor of Medicine and Consultant Psychiatrist at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, takes over from Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, whose tenure ended on May 11, 2025.
Piwuna, the immediate past National Vice President of ASUU and former Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos, emerged president at the union’s 23rd National Delegates Congress held on Sunday at the University of Benin, Edo State. He reportedly defeated Professor Adamu Babayo of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, in a keenly contested election.
His emergence comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s university system, with growing tension over the Federal Government’s disbursement of Earned Academic Allowances, increasing brain drain, and other lingering issues in the tertiary education sector.
Other newly elected executive members include Austen Sado (Vice President), Happiness Uduk (Financial Secretary), Peter Adamu (Treasurer), Celestine Aguoru (Investment Secretary), Aisha Bawa (Welfare Officer), and Kassim Umar (Internal Auditor).
Professor Osodeke, who led the union from May 2021, was re-elected in 2023 and is widely known for his strong stance against the controversial Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and his advocacy for revitalisation and autonomy in public universities.
