ASUU threatens strike, demands implementation of renegotiation agreement

The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), has called on the Federal Government to sign and implement the renegotiation agreement made to avoid industrial action by the union.

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

Abdullahi explained that the union had entered into a renegotiation of the 2009 agreement between the federal government and ASUU, adding that it was concluded in December 2024 but yet to be signed and 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 Abuja ASUU zonal chairman noted that it was impossible for a nation to advance or develop beyond the level of 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 neglecting proper funding for educational institutions had resulted in un-conducive learning environments and a decline in the global ranking of Nigerian universities among others.

Abdullahi said that in keeping with the UNESCO convention, ASUU demanded that both federal and state governments make education a priority through increased annual budgetary allocations.

He said that the union since the inception of the present administration had used the practice of dialogue to resolve their differences with the government over their demands.

He noted that the use of dialogue had made it possible that in the past two years there had not been any general ASUU strike.

He reiterated that the union in Abuja was demanding the payment of promotion arrears of its members, unconditional release of their three and half months withheld salaries, release of third-party as well as deductions to union 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.

Abdullahi disclosed that there were crisis affecting universities in Nigeria, adding that it was not just a problem for ASUU, but a problem for the entire country.

“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.

Our correspondent reports that the union has planned to embark on a peaceful protest nationwide to press home their demands.