The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, has accused the Federal Government of undermining Nigeria’s education sector by failing to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement, warning that the continued delay could trigger another crisis in the university system.
Speaking at a press conference at Benue State University, Makurdi, the Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Christian Opata, said the government’s slow pace and insincerity in honoring its commitments are “jeopardizing the future of the nation” and eroding academics’ trust in official negotiations.
“The Federal Government is undermining the nation’s future through lip service to education, especially tertiary education. The slow pace and purposeful delays in concluding renegotiations pose serious risks for society,” Opata declared.
ASUU also criticized recent contradictory statements by the Education Minister regarding the existence of an agreement with the union, describing them as evidence of inconsistency and lack of good faith.
The union recalled that following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on October 21, 2025, it suspended a warning strike to allow further engagement with the government, despite what it described as “grossly insufficient offers.”
Opata noted that the one-month window given to the government to conclude renegotiations was intended to demonstrate ASUU’s goodwill and appreciation for the support received from students, parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and other stakeholders.
“It is now the government’s responsibility to take advantage of this opportunity and resolve all outstanding issues to avoid keeping our children out of school,” he warned.
ASUU expressed disappointment that, during its latest NEC meeting in Jalingo, the government’s salary proposals were “far below expectations” and even lower than what was rejected in 2022.
“The proposed salary increment is only a drop in the ocean. It cannot address brain drain or improve the welfare of Nigerian academics. Partial payments of promotion arrears and third-party deductions are obligations owed to our members, not new concessions,” the union said.
The union accused government officials of misrepresenting partial payments as progress, saying such tactics threaten the credibility of the negotiation process.
Contrary to claims of limited resources, ASUU noted that both federal and state revenues have increased significantly in recent years. Citing Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) figures, the union said state allocations rose from ₦3.92 trillion in 2022 to ₦5.81 trillion in 2024, while the federal share grew from ₦3.42 trillion to ₦4.65 trillion during the same period.
“The issue is not lack of funds but lack of political will. The government must stop treating education as a commercial good and recognize it as a social investment critical to national development,” the union said.
ASUU urged traditional rulers, civil society groups, students, and labour unions to pressure the government to resolve the dispute and ensure lecturers are paid a living wage.
“Our take-home pay can no longer cover basic needs. One month’s salary of a Professor cannot even buy a return ticket from Lagos to Abuja. Senior lecturers cannot afford to publish their research. This is unacceptable,” Opata lamented.
The union called on the Federal Government to use the remaining days of the one-month window to act decisively and avoid actions that could “widen the trust deficit” and trigger another nationwide university shutdown.
The ASUU Nsukka Zone comprises eight universities, including Benue State University, Makurdi (BSU); Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM); Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT); Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUSHO); Kogi State University (KSU); Federal University Lokoja (FUL); Federal University Wukari (FUW); and University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
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