ASUU Threatens Strike, Demands Implementation of Renegotiated Agreement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement with the union, warning that failure to do so may lead to industrial action.

The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Abuja Zone, Prof. Al-Amin Abdullahi, made the call at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.

Abdullahi explained that the union had entered into a renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government, which was concluded in December 2024 but is yet to be signed or implemented.

According to him, “the FGN reached an Agreement with our union in 2009, famously called the FG/ASUU 2009 Agreement. Almost 17 years after this agreement was signed, its provisions were only partially implemented.

“After years of pressure, insistence and industrial actions, the FG reluctantly agreed to commence the renegotiation of the Agreement due since 2012 in 2017.

”The process was concluded in December 2024, with Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, 4th Renegotiation Committee Chair.

“We submitted the document to the FG in February 2025. However, to our shock and dismay, the FG is yet to indicate its readiness to sign the draft agreement which is urgently needed to address the deteriorating conditions in our universities.”

The ASUU Abuja Zonal Chairman stressed that no nation can advance beyond the standard of its university system.

“In spite of the conclusion of various agreement, successive administrations in Nigeria have made the decision to under-fund universities on a systemic basis, which has resulted in the nation’s institutions having deteriorating infrastructure.

”The conditions of service of academic staff, funding and autonomy of our universities continue to be eroded in all our campuses with overcrowded classrooms, laboratories that are inadequately equipped, and hostel amenities that are inhabitable,” he said.

He added that poor funding of education had created unconducive learning environments and contributed to the decline of Nigerian universities in global rankings.

Abdullahi further noted that in line with UNESCO recommendations, ASUU is demanding that federal and state governments prioritise education through increased annual budgetary allocations.

He explained that since the current administration came on board, the union had chosen dialogue as a means of engagement with the government, which had ensured that no nationwide strike was declared in the past two years.

He, however, reiterated the union’s demands, including payment of promotion arrears of members, unconditional release of their three-and-a-half months withheld salaries, and release of third-party deductions to unions and cooperatives.

”We are also asking for the payment of one year arrears of 25 /35 per cent salary award to our members, implementation of the new conditions of service and the adoption of TITAS (UTAS) as payment system for universities.

“The purposeful mortgage of a nation’s future and the endangerment of generations yet to be born is the result of a nation’s disregard for education.

“Until Nigeria has a university system that assures effective education, excellent research, innovation, and sustainable national development, ASUU will not give up,” he said.

Abdullahi stressed that the crisis facing Nigerian universities was not just an ASUU problem but a national one.

Arise Africa News has relaibly being infromed that the union has also scheduled a nationwide peaceful protest to press home its demands.