Yola: The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has cautioned that inadequate implementation of its 2025 agreement with the Federal Government might lead to renewed unrest across Nigerian public universities. ASUU President, Mr. Christopher Piwuna, issued this warning during a news conference following the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Piwuna expressed concerns about the Federal Government’s failure to establish the Implementation Monitoring Committee, a provision included in the agreement signed with ASUU in December 2025. He noted that the delay is hindering effective execution of the agreement and creating confusion in its implementation. The ASUU president emphasized that the absence of the committee has resulted in a disjointed and uncoordinated application of the agreement.
Piwuna warned that the advancements achieved during negotiations could be jeopardized if the government does not fully implement all components of the agreement. He accused certain government agencies and university authorities of selectively implementing the agreement, particularly regarding the payment of lecturers’ allowances. Additionally, he criticized some vice-chancellors for not fully implementing the agreed welfare packages for academic staff.
He highlighted that some state governments involved in the negotiation process have yet to implement the salary component of the agreement for lecturers in state-owned universities. Unresolved issues, including withheld salaries, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls, and unremitted third-party deductions, continue to affect lecturers, contributing to growing frustration among them.
Piwuna called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and resolve all outstanding welfare issues to maintain industrial harmony within the university system. He also criticized the Federal Government’s proposed National Research and Innovation Development Fund, stating it does not meet the provisions outlined in the agreement, which recommended allocating at least one percent of Nigeria’s GDP to research funding.
Furthermore, Piwuna rejected the Federal Government’s plan to establish a Coventry University campus in Nigeria under the Transnational Education framework, describing it as ‘neo-colonial’ and warning that it could undermine the country’s tertiary education system. He also opposed plans to eliminate certain university courses deemed irrelevant, asserting that all academic programs contribute to societal and economic development.
ASUU plans to convene an emergency NEC meeting in the coming weeks to evaluate the situation and decide on its next course of action.