The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to prioritise adequate funding for public universities, insisting that sustainable investment in education is the only way to end recurring strikes and improve Nigeria’s global academic standing.
The union made the appeal during a session with the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund at the National Assembly on Friday.
ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, who spoke on behalf of the union, said the ongoing two-week warning strike stemmed from unresolved issues dating back to 2011.
“We engaged the Federal Government for eight years without tangible results. The Yayale Ahmed Committee report, submitted in December 2024, was ignored until this industrial action began,” he said.
Demands Remain the Same
Professor Piwuna noted that ASUU’s core demands—sustainable funding, improved working conditions, revitalisation of public universities, and academic autonomy—remain unchanged.
He urged the Senate committee to press the government to meet these demands, stating, “Try us. Push government to fund universities adequately and you’ll see the end of strikes and the improvement of our universities in global rankings.”
The ASUU president also revealed that although ₦150 billion was approved by the National Assembly for universities, only ₦50 billion had been released—and even that amount remains stalled at the Ministry of Education.
He alleged that the minister planned to share the funds among universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, despite each institution having separate allocations.
Piwuna warned that the ₦150 billion approved specifically for universities must be used for its intended purpose.
ASUU Cautions FCT Minister Wike
The union also raised concerns over alleged attempts by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to acquire part of the University of Abuja’s 10,000-hectare land.
“We are worried because the University of Abuja is located in the FCT. Anyone serious about higher education should be focused on developing it,” ASUU said.
ASUU declared a two-week warning strike on October 13 over issues including poor working conditions, non-implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, withheld salaries, and inadequate funding for university revitalisation.
“If the minister wants land, he should look in the opposite direction. Despite repeated calls, the FCT minister continues to show interest in acquiring part of it. We appeal to the Senate to intervene and prevail on the minister to leave the university land alone.”
While the government maintains that it has addressed most of the union’s demands, it has also enforced the no-work, no-pay policy against striking lecturers.
What you should know
ASUU’s renewed push for better funding underscores its long-standing battle with the Federal Government over the state of Nigeria’s public universities.
The union insists that consistent, adequate investment is the only way to end recurring strikes and lift the nation’s higher institutions to international standards.
