Lecturers in Nigeria’s public universities have expressed growing concern over delays in the payment of their salaries, calling on the Federal Government to urgently address the situation.
As of Friday, March 6, many university lecturers were yet to receive their complete salaries for January, while almost all academic staff across the country had not been paid their February wages.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Christopher Piwuna, gave an update on the implementation of the recently signed agreement between the union and the Federal Government.
According to him, ASUU remains the only workers’ union among public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education that has reached a new agreement with the Federal Government. The agreement was expected to take effect beginning with the January salary payments.
However, Piwuna disclosed that lecturers are becoming increasingly uneasy as the delay in salary payments persists, noting that members are pressing for the immediate release of their wages.
Findings also revealed that the union had earlier resolved that if salaries are delayed beyond the third day of a new month, members may consider embarking on a strike.
While confirming this position, Piwuna explained that the union cannot take such action at the moment due to the circumstances surrounding the implementation of the agreement.
He explained that the new salary structure is tied to the 2026 national budget, which has yet to be passed into law. According to him, once the budget is approved and becomes law, there will be no justification for any further delay in implementation.
“But all the same, our members are getting agitated for their salaries,” he said.
The ASUU president also noted that, as of the time of filing the report, he was unaware of any university that had paid its workers their February salaries.
He further revealed that state universities are yet to begin implementing the new agreement. According to him, the union has already communicated with relevant authorities, urging them to align with the new arrangement without unnecessary delays.
Piwuna, a Professor of Medicine, commended vice-chancellors who have taken alternative steps to ensure that their staff received full payment for January salaries. He encouraged other university administrators whose institutions are still owing part of January salaries to follow the same example, stressing that workers deserve to be paid for their labour.
He also acknowledged recent efforts toward maintaining more stable academic calendars in Nigeria’s public universities, noting that both the general public and ASUU members welcome the progress.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Piwuna assured lecturers that the union’s leadership stands firmly with them and appealed for continued patience as efforts continue toward the full implementation of the agreement and the regular payment of salaries.
