ASUU Urges Immediate Govt Response to Unfulfilled Agreements

Abuja, Nigeria — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a strong call for immediate intervention by the Federal Government over what it described as chronic neglect of past agreements aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s university system.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, newly elected ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, criticized the government for failing to honor several key commitments, warning that continued delays threaten the stability and future of higher education in the country.

Piwuna outlined a list of unresolved issues, many of which date back over a decade. These include the non-implementation of MoUs and MoAs signed since 2013, and the partial fulfillment of the landmark 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.

“The level of compliance with the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement is disappointing,” he stated, citing crucial aspects such as the renegotiation of the agreement based on the 2021 draft by the Nimi Briggs Committee, release of salaries withheld during the 2022 strike, and payment of wages for staff affected by IPPIS, the government’s centralized payroll platform.

ASUU is also demanding the immediate release of third-party deductions, including union dues and cooperative contributions, as well as funding for the revitalization of public universities and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

Professor Piwuna further expressed concern over the proliferation of underfunded universities, failure to constitute governing councils in many institutions, and the continued rejection of ASUU’s preferred payroll platform, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), which it argues better suits the university environment than IPPIS.

He warned that continued political interference in university administration is eroding institutional autonomy, a key element for maintaining academic integrity.

“Education is the foundation of national development,” Piwuna emphasized. “Government must act decisively to restore confidence in the system and avert renewed disruption.”

ASUU stressed that addressing these longstanding issues is essential not only for industrial peace but also for enabling universities to fulfill their mandate in driving sustainable national progress.

By Taiwo Olatinwo | May 25, 2025