The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos Zone, has intensified its call on the Federal Government to ensure its members receive a living wage instead of the minimum wage, which it described as grossly inadequate given the country’s economic situation.
Speaking at a press conference held at the union’s secretariat in the University of Lagos, the Lagos Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Adeola Nassir, explained that the union’s demands go beyond routine wage adjustments, as lecturers across the nation are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.
The renewed call followed a peaceful demonstration by ASUU members in Lagos two days earlier, where they demanded that the government address unpaid salaries and arrears owed to them. According to Nassir, numerous engagements have been held with government representatives to address critical issues such as four years of unpaid promotion arrears, wage award arrears, and palliatives promised to workers. He stressed that “no payment has been made to date,” underscoring the union’s frustration.
Nassir further accused the Federal Government of undermining university autonomy by choosing to release funds directly to staff rather than to the institutions themselves, which, he maintained, are the rightful custodians of their finances. He argued that such practices weaken the system and erode the independence of universities.
On the recently introduced Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund, Nassir lamented that what was initially conceived as a grant program to assist academics with up to ₦10 million for academic development, health care, family responsibilities, and transport support, has been transformed into a loan scheme. He added that this shift made the funds largely inaccessible to ASUU members and failed to meet the original intent of the initiative.
Nassir also issued a warning that ASUU retains the right to embark on a nationwide strike if the government continues to neglect its obligations. He emphasized that “whatever happens next, Nigerians should hold the government responsible, not ASUU,” insisting that the union would not allow its members’ sacrifices to be disregarded or their welfare to be diminished.
He reaffirmed that ASUU’s mission remains centered on safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s university system, ensuring that lecturers are adequately compensated, and resisting attempts to push its members into poverty.
What you should know
ASUU, Nigeria’s leading academic union, has consistently been at the forefront of labor struggles in the university system.
Its Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Adeola Nassir, reiterated that the union seeks a fair wage reflective of the country’s economic challenges, while warning that the government’s continued inaction could lead to another nationwide strike.
