The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abuja Zone, has called on the Federal Government to implement the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement and release the three-and-a-half months’ withheld salaries of its members to prevent potential industrial action.
Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Al-Amin Abdullahi, made the appeal during a press briefing on Monday in Abuja, stressing that the ongoing issues in Nigerian universities go beyond the union and reflect a broader national crisis.
“There is a crisis in our universities, and it is not just ASUU’s concern, it’s a national issue,” he said. “Neglecting education amounts to endangering future generations. Until Nigeria establishes a university system that ensures quality education, impactful research, innovation, and sustainable development, ASUU will not relent.”
The union is demanding the payment of members’ promotion arrears, full release of the withheld salaries, and third-party deductions owed to the union and affiliated cooperatives. Other demands include payment of the one-year salary arrears from the 25/35 percent wage award, implementation of the new conditions of service, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as the payment platform for academics.
Prof. Abdullahi lamented the chronic underfunding of public universities, which he said has led to poor infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, ill-equipped laboratories, and substandard hostel facilities.
He noted that the deteriorating conditions are contributing to a decline in the global rankings of Nigerian universities, and urged both federal and state governments to increase education funding in line with UNESCO’s recommendations.
Since the start of the current administration, Abdullahi said ASUU has embraced dialogue to resolve issues rather than resort to strikes—a strategy that has contributed to relative industrial stability over the past two years.
However, he pointed out that key issues in the 2009 agreement, such as revitalisation funding, university autonomy, academic freedom, and a review of the legal frameworks governing agencies like the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), remain unresolved.
