ASUU Rejects Inclusion in Tertiary Staff Loan Scheme, Demands Delisting

Abuja, Nigeria–The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has formally rejected its inclusion in the Federal Government’s newly introduced Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), describing the move as an attempt to co-opt the union into a loan scheme it neither proposed nor endorsed.

In a communiqué issued following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and signed by its National President, Dr. Christopher Piwuna, on Tuesday, ASUU demanded that the Federal Government immediately delist the union from the TISSF initiative.

“NEC resolved to reject the ploy to conscript ASUU as ‘guarantor’ of loans the Union knows nothing about and demands that ASUU be delisted from the process,” the communiqué stated.

Rather than offering loans to academic and non-academic staff, ASUU insisted that the government should prioritize the payment of the three and a half months’ salaries still being withheld from its members, stating that such a move would have far greater impact.

The union also reiterated its call for the swift conclusion and implementation of the renegotiated FGN-ASUU agreement currently under review by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee. ASUU emphasized that any outcomes must reflect the principles of collective bargaining.

ASUU’s position comes in response to the recent launch of the TISSF by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. The interest-free loan scheme provides up to N10 million for eligible staff of tertiary institutions, with conditions including at least five years of service remaining before retirement and membership in recognised staff unions, including ASUU, SSANU, and NASU.

However, ASUU argues that its inclusion in the scheme was done without consultation or consent, further intensifying tensions between the union and the Federal Government.

In addition, the union announced plans to stage coordinated nationwide protests to demand government action on several unresolved issues. According to the communiqué, press conferences will be held across all ASUU branches on a date to be announced.

“The NEC discussed the state of the struggle and the government’s slow pace in addressing the issues in contention. Consequently, NEC resolved to organise protests across all the Branches simultaneously on a fixed date,” the communiqué noted.

Among the unresolved matters cited by ASUU are the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, improved funding for public universities, better working conditions, respect for university autonomy and academic freedom, and a review of laws governing the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The union also disclosed its intention to unveil a new digital platform, the Tertiary Institutions Transparency and Accountability Solution (TITAS), as a successor to the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS). ASUU stated that TITAS is already at an advanced development stage, with several universities expressing interest in adopting the system for operational use.

By Taiwo Olatinwo/ August 19,2025