University Professors' Union Issues Threat of New Strike Due to Unresolved Work Conflicts
ASUU Warns of Potential New Strike in Nigerian Universities
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a warning about a potential new round of industrial action in Nigerian public universities, citing ongoing labour issues with the Federal and state governments.
The current unresolved issues primarily stem from the government's failure to honor and fully implement the 2009 FGN-ASUU Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Despite multiple memoranda of understanding or action over the years, meaningful resolution has been elusive.
Key unresolved issues include the non-implementation of agreed terms in the 2009 CBA, poor working conditions for academic staff, welfare concerns, undermining collective bargaining protections, political interference in university governance, and state-level challenges.
ASUU decries the selective renegotiation of parts of the agreement, causing prolonged disputes. Lecturers work under dire economic conditions, teaching “on empty stomachs,” and lack adequate remuneration and support for personal and family needs amid rising costs.
The union also laments the delay in renegotiating the agreement, despite receiving revised draft proposals since late 2024. ASUU views political interference in university governance, such as controversies over vice-chancellor appointments, as detrimental to academic autonomy and staff morale.
State-level challenges, including industrial actions like the indefinite strike by Lagos State University staff, show that the dispute extends beyond federal universities into the state sector.
ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, cautioned that recent assurances by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, about no more strikes may remain unfulfilled without concrete action. A draft renegotiated agreement submitted by the Yayale Ahmed Committee in December 2024 remains unattended for eight months.
ASUU urges "all genuine patriots" to prevail on the Federal and state governments to take immediate steps to prevent another breakdown in the university system. The union calls on Nigerian leaders to urgently resolve these lingering issues to avert another crisis crippling the university system.
The key issues in the agreement include conditions of service, funding, university autonomy, and reforms of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
[1] The Punch [2] Vanguard [3] The Guardian [4] Daily Trust [5] Premium Times
- The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned about a potential new strike in Nigerian universities, raising concerns over ongoing labor issues with the Federal and state governments.
- Key ASUU concerns include the non-implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), poor working conditions, welfare issues, and political interference in university governance.
- ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, has appealed to all genuine patriots to urge the Federal and state governments to take immediate steps to prevent another breakdown in the university system.
- Thedelay in renegotiating the 2009 CBA and selective renegotiation of parts of the agreement have caused prolonged disputes, with lecturers working under dire economic conditions.
- State-level challenges, such as the indefinite strike by Lagos State University staff, indicate that the dispute extends beyond federal universities into the state sector.
- The lingering issues in the education sector, such as conditions of service, funding, university autonomy, and reforms of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), have been reported in various news outlets, including The Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian, Daily Trust, and Premium Times.
