Strike looms as ASUU asks FG to release N150bn revitalisation fund

Nigerian universities may be thrown into another wave of strike as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the Federal Government to speedily address all outstanding issues and reneged agreements to sustain the industrial harmony in universities.

ASUU President Prof. Chris Piwuna made this known via a statement issued on Friday, May 23, 2025.

Piwuna said the government has continued to renege on its promises and signed agreements with the unions.

While explaining that ASUU only embarks on strike as a last resort when every other channel of engagement fails to yield positive fruits, Piwuna stated that its members have not only tried, but has given government enough time to address to the issues under contention

Piwuna who accused the government of paying lip service to education and welfare of university academics, lamented that ASUU members have had to contend with enormous challenges occasioned by hostile work environments and debilitating conditions of service.

He stated: “It is noted that the government has made promises on some of these issues. The government agreed to mainstream the EAA into the salaries with the creation of Irregular Allowance as a budget line in the 2026 Budget, after the release of N50 billion for backlog and budgeting N29 billion for payment of 2025 Earned Academic Allowances.

“Similarly, the government also agreed to release N150 billion as re-vitalization fund within four weeks with effect from April, 2025.

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“However, we are still waiting for government to fulfil these promises. The Union has also reached an understanding with Yayale Ahmed-led Committee, with the review of the report of the Nimi Briggs-led FGN-ASUU Renegotiation Committee in December 2024. Again, ASUU members have been left in limbo; waiting for the signing of an Agreement five months after!

“Delegates at the UNIBEN NDC exhaustively evaluated government’s disposition in resolving outstanding issues with the Union and expressed regrets that nothing has significantly changed in the last two years.

“The irreducible minimum that can guarantee industrial harmony in the Nigeria University System (NUS) is for government to speedily address all outstanding issues including conclusion of the renegotiation of 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, payment of the withheld-three-and-half months’ salaries, release of the backlog of promotion arrears, payment of withheld salaries of sabbatical/part-time lecturers on account of not signing into the discredited IPPIS, and addressing the unjust victimization of ASUU leaders and members in some state universities.

“Beyond these, we demand a faithful implementation of all issues arising from our previous Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Action (MoAs) government signed with ASUU since 2013.”

Piwuna further alleged that the funds meant to be channelled to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) were being diverted to provide loan to students of tertiary institutions through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The ASUU President added: “The TETFund resources that should solely be channelled into this process are under threat of diversion and misapplication by the government agents. The diversion of TETFund money into NELFUND is a graphic example.

“We are not very happy about it and ASUU has made its position clear. They can offer scholarships and grants to students, why loans? We don’t think it’s helpful to give them loans we think they should convert it to scholarships and grants.”

The Star