ASUU to FG: Prioritise Education, Secure Nigeria’s Future

After convening its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Taraba State on November 8 and 9, 2025, ASUU issued a statement expressing concerns that the government’s sluggishness in tackling the issue might lead to “serious repercussions” for the education sector of the nation.

The statement, which was authorized by ASUU president Chris Piwuna, highlighted the union’s review of the discussions with the federal government’s negotiating team and conveyed disappointment regarding what it termed a lack of genuine commitment and sincerity in the renegotiation efforts.

ASUU remembered that during its emergency session on October 21, 2025, it decided to halt its warning strike in good faith, notwithstanding the government’s “grossly inadequate offers.”

The union indicated that the choice to suspend the strike was predicated on the anticipation that the government would make productive use of the one-month timeframe to come to a meaningful conclusion on the renegotiation.

“ASUU NEC expressed its regret that government officials are sabotaging the negotiation process through subtle misrepresentation of its commitments and the actualization of agreements.

“The partial payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2017 and the disbursement of third-party deductions, which have been owed to members for years, are merely confidence-boosting gestures and should not be represented as fundamental aspects of the negotiation process.

“The government’s implementation strategy does not align with reality, presenting a significant risk to the renegotiation as it raises doubts about the credibility of its proposals. The aim must be to resolve the issues rather than shape the narrative,” the statement partially noted.

ASUU urged Mr. Tinubu’s administration to wisely utilize the remaining days of the one-month period to reach a comprehensive resolution of the ongoing issues, especially those concerning the enhancement of the living and working conditions of Nigerian academics.

The union also criticized the federal government for continuing to view education as a commercial enterprise rather than a public service crucial for sustainable national progress.

“Education, as the foundation of any society, warrants special attention—especially in Nigeria, given the deficiency in our educational infrastructure.

“It is surprising that the status of academics and education has not improved significantly in recent years,” it added.

ASUU also challenged the government’s assertions of economic limitations, contending that revenues at both federal and state levels have notably increased in recent years.

Referencing figures from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), the union pointed out that state revenues grew from N3.92 trillion in 2022 to N5.81 trillion in 2024, while federal revenues rose from N3.42 trillion to N4.65 trillion over the same timeframe.

“It is the lack of political will and not economic conditions that have hindered the resolution of this renegotiation process, as the aforementioned revenue data clearly supports this assertion,” the statement continued.

Nevertheless, the union appealed to traditional leaders, labor unions, students, and civil society organizations to urge the government to take appropriate action and provide lecturers with a fair wage.