ASUU threatens fresh strike over agreement delay

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, on Thursday accused the Federal Government of failing to fully implement the 2025 ASUU/FGN agreement, warning that the continued delay could trigger another round of industrial action across the nation’s universities. The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Nsukka Zone, Comrade Christian Opata, alleged that the government was […]

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, on Thursday accused the Federal Government of failing to fully implement the 2025 ASUU/FGN agreement, warning that the continued delay could trigger another round of industrial action across the nation’s universities.

The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Nsukka Zone, Comrade Christian Opata, alleged that the government was reverting to what he described as its “usual unproductive approach,” stressing that key provisions of the agreement signed on January 14, 2026, had either been partially implemented, distorted or completely abandoned.

Addressing journalists at a press conference held at Benue State University, Makurdi, Opata said the Federal Government had yet to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee предусмотрed in the agreement to ensure compliance with its terms.

The union also criticised the Federal Government over the proposed National Research and Innovation Development Fund announced by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, alleging that ASUU was sidelined despite being a major signatory to the agreement.

ASUU further claimed that the government had abandoned the provision of the agreement requiring at least one per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to be dedicated to research, innovation and development, describing the new arrangement as one that could “promote asymmetrical dependency.”

The union lamented that critical monetary components of the agreement, including Consolidated Tools Allowances, Earned Academic Allowances and Professorial Allowances, had yet to be integrated into the Consolidated Academic Staff Salary Scale due to what it described as lack of financial commitment from the government.

According to the union, several universities were yet to implement the salary adjustments, while some state governments were allegedly delaying action despite participating in negotiations that produced the agreement.

ASUU also decried the non-payment of arrears arising from the 25 to 35 per cent salary award, promotion arrears, unpaid pension remittances, check-off dues, cooperative deductions and withheld salaries linked to the 2022 ASUU strike.

The union further alleged undue interference by some university authorities and governing councils in university administration, citing what it described as arbitrary attempts to overturn the appointment of a Deputy Vice Chancellor at Benue State University.

It also raised concerns over what it called questionable promotions to professorial rank in some universities, particularly at Federal University Lokoja, where it claimed four controversial cases were under investigation.

The lecturers’ union equally condemned delays in the payment of pensions and gratuities to retired academics, citing the case of late Professor Targema Iorvaa of Benue State University, who it alleged died without receiving his retirement benefits.

ASUU also opposed the proposed relegation of indigenous languages as tools of instruction in schools, warning that such a policy could undermine national development and violate the National Policy on Education.

The union appealed to stakeholders in the education sector to prevail on both federal and state governments to fully implement the 2025 agreement in order to avert what it described as a looming industrial crisis in Nigerian universities.