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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that it may embark on fresh industrial action if the Federal Government fails to fully implement the 2025 agreement reached with the union.
ASUU President, Mr Christopher Piwuna, issued the warning on Monday during a press conference held in Yola after the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. He expressed concern over the government’s alleged failure to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee provided for in the agreement signed in December 2025.
According to him, the absence of the committee is hampering proper coordination and creating room for what he described as distorted and inconsistent implementation of the agreement across institutions.
Piwuna stated that the progress made during negotiations could be jeopardized if all provisions of the agreement are not faithfully executed. He alleged that some government agencies and university authorities were selectively implementing certain aspects, particularly in relation to lecturers’ allowances.
He also accused some vice-chancellors of failing to fully comply with agreed welfare packages for academic staff. In addition, he noted that several state governments that participated in the negotiations had yet to implement the salary components of the agreement in state-owned universities.
The ASUU president highlighted unresolved issues affecting members, including withheld salaries, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls, and unremitted third-party deductions, saying the continued delay was increasing frustration within the university system.
Piwuna called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently to ensure full compliance with the agreement and maintain industrial harmony in public universities.
He further criticised the proposed National Research and Innovation Development Fund, arguing that it does not reflect the provision in the agreement, which recommends allocating at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to research funding.
The ASUU leader also opposed the Federal Government’s plan to establish a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria under the Transnational Education framework, describing it as potentially detrimental to the growth of local universities. He equally rejected proposals to discontinue certain academic programmes, insisting that all disciplines contribute to national development.
Piwuna announced that the union would convene an emergency NEC meeting in the coming weeks to review developments and decide on its next course of action.
