FG risks another ASUU strike if promises fail, the Ibadan Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned. The union said the peace currently enjoyed in Nigerian universities could soon collapse if the government continues to ignore outstanding agreements.
The warning came on Monday at a press conference held at the University of Ibadan ASUU Secretariat in Oyo State, where the Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Biodun Olaniran, accused the Federal Government of delay tactics and neglect of critical issues affecting public universities.
He declared, “ASUU members are increasingly frustrated with the government’s delay tactics, the so-called ‘keep them talking’ syndrome. Even a goat, when pushed to the wall, will eventually react.”
FG Risks Another ASUU Strike if 2009 Agreement Remains Unimplemented
Olaniran reminded the government that several demands remained unresolved. These include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding of universities, restoration of university autonomy, payment of withheld salaries, arrears of promotions, and mainstreaming of Earned Academic Allowances.
He said the Federal Government had refused to sign a draft agreement reached in 2021 with its own renegotiation committee. He also lamented that the Yayale Ahmed report, submitted in February 2025 to address the contentious issues, had been ignored.
FG Risks Another ASUU Strike if Underfunding Persists
On funding, the Ibadan Zone of ASUU accused the Tinubu administration of starving universities of resources. The group faulted the allocation of only seven per cent of the 2025 national budget to education, far below the UNESCO benchmark of 15–26 per cent.
“Our universities are plagued by underfunding, decaying infrastructure, poorly equipped laboratories, and deplorable hostels. None of our public universities rank among the top 1,000 globally,” Olaniran said.
FG Risks Another ASUU Strike if Victimisation of Union Leaders Continues
ASUU further alleged that its members were being victimised at Lagos State University, Kogi State University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. The union said some leaders were facing trumped-up charges and unlawful withholding of salaries.
On autonomy, the group condemned the dissolution of governing councils, the imposition of political appointees, and the erosion of Senate powers through the centralised curriculum introduced by the National Universities Commission.
FG Risks Another ASUU Strike if Salary Issues Are Ignored
The union also demanded the release of three-and-a-half months of salaries withheld during the 2022 strike, as well as arrears from the 25–35 per cent wage award promised by the government but yet to be implemented.
It condemned the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, describing it as fraudulent. According to ASUU, many universities had not received promotion arrears for more than four years, while third-party deductions were left unremitted.
Bottom Line
FG risks another ASUU strike if promises fail, and the union made it clear that its patience is running out. While it insists it is peace-loving, the Ibadan Zone warned that another crisis in the university system is inevitable unless the Federal Government honours its commitments.
