ASUU Threatens Fresh Strike Over Salary Delays, Unmet Demands
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ibadan Zone, has warned of a looming nationwide crisis in the university system if the Federal Government fails to urgently address outstanding issues affecting lecturers’ welfare and the education sector.
Zonal Coordinator of the union, Prof. Biodun Olaniran, issued the warning at a press conference on Monday at the University of Ibadan Secretariat, Oyo State.
Olaniran said the current calm in public universities was sustained only by ASUU’s patience and expectation that government would honour its promises.
“ASUU members are increasingly frustrated with the government’s delay tactics — the so-called ‘keep them talking’ strategy. Even a goat, when pushed to the wall, will eventually react,” he said.
The union listed its unresolved demands to include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU–FGN Agreement, adequate funding and revitalisation of universities, restoration of autonomy, payment of withheld salaries and promotion arrears, and mainstreaming of Earned Academic Allowances.
Olaniran noted that although a draft agreement was reached in 2021 with the government’s own renegotiation committee, authorities have failed to sign or implement it. He added that the Yayale Ahmed report, submitted in February 2025 to address the contentious issues, had also been ignored.
On funding, ASUU criticised the allocation of only seven per cent of the 2025 national budget to education — far below UNESCO’s 15–26 per cent benchmark.
“Our universities are plagued by underfunding, decaying infrastructure, poorly equipped laboratories, and deplorable hostels. None of our public universities rank among the top 1,000 globally,” Olaniran lamented.
The union also condemned the alleged victimisation of its leaders at LASU, Kogi State University, and FUTO through salary withholdings and trumped-up charges.
ASUU further demanded the release of the three-and-a-half months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 strike, the implementation of the promised 25–35 per cent wage award, and payment of arrears. It also rejected the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), which it described as fraudulent, citing unremitted deductions and promotion arrears outstanding for over four years.
“Another crisis in the university system can only be prevented if the Federal Government honours its commitments. We are peace-loving, but we will not continue to watch our members’ welfare sacrificed to delay tactics,” Olaniran said.
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