THE TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF
UNIVERSITIES (ASUU), THURSDAY 21ST AUGUST 2025 AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF JOS, NIGERIA
Dear Compatriots of the Press.
Let me start by appreciating the support and robust discussion of our
issues, by the press, and thank you for accepting our invitation at a short
notice. As members of the fourth estate of the realm, you have remained
steadfast in addressing issues raised by our union, and we will always be
grateful for your support and presence.
Three months ago, we addressed a press conference at our National
Secretariat, entitled: “The Most Powerful Weapon Against Poverty,
Extremism and Ignorance was not the Bullet, but Education”, and warned
against complacency. In the said release, we specifically raised the
following issues:
- Re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
- Sustainable funding of our universities.
- Revitalization of universities.
- Victimization of our colleges in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar
Audu University) and FUTO. - Outstanding 25-35% salary areas
- Promotion Areas for over 4 years
- Third party deductions
The government made promises on these issues. Regrettably, we are
here today to inform the Nigerian public, through you, that these
undisputed issues could lead to a crisis in our educational sector have
met, as with other consequences, nothing but the same response.
Re-negotiating the 2009 Agreement
Since the submission of the Alh. Yayale Ahmed Report in February
2025, it has remained on the shelf until our meeting of 11th August 2025.
This is clearly troubling for our members, as it indicates governments
attempt to jettison the Collective Bargaining Principle. Nigeria, as a
signatory to the ILO Convention, and an acclaimed leader in Africa, with
bogus government representation at ILO meetings, cannot disregard one
of the core principles of the organization “CBA”. We therefore, wish to
caution government to return to this principle in addressing the issues
in our draft agreement. NEC considered and acknowledged the planned
government meeting of 28th August 2025. We will like to state for the
untempt time, that “Time is Running 0ut” , and for the avoidance ofdoubt, this draft document addresses issues like conditions of service,
university autonomy, academic freedom, funding of the universities and
review of laws governing JAMB, NUC. At the Usmanu Dan fodio
university NEC meeting, the Union frowned at the delay tactics by
government and urged our members to be patient for the outcome of
the meeting by the government. However, with the attack on our salaries
by the introduction of loans for staff, the Union is prepared for all
options at the next meeting to be convened as soon as we get feedback
on the meeting convened by the minister of education. NEC will,
therefore be decisive on the outcome of the meeting. We are
determined to end the pronouncements by government claiming
commitment to sound university education and fidelity to collective
agreement. Trust has been destroyed by government, it is, therefore up
to them to regain it to avert any strike.
Ø TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS STAFF SUPPORT FUND (TISSF): NEC
considered this policy of government and decisively rejected the
proposition requesting ASUU to write a letter for its members to
access the loan. Our members do not lack where to find loans; indeed,
they are already deep in debt from such loans. What we need now is
for government to sign our renegotiated agreement, which will
improve our purchasing power and decrease our reliance on debts
from cooperative societies. We considered it a poison chalice and
redirect members to ask our employers the Governing Councils
through Vice Chancellors to “guarantee” the loan. It is needless to add that this government is still owing our members 3½ months
salaries for work done. Government should use the money set aside
for the loans to defray our withheld salaries. Members are advised to
stay away from the loan and focus on our legitimate entitlements
because it is a bait. This loan will incapacitate university-based
cooperatives societies, and perpetual enslavement of our members.
The obvious implication is that after deducting the union dues, NHIS,
pension contribution, and maybe your co-operative deductions nothing
would be left for family.
How can the government ask us to take loan to pay for our health, pay
for school fees of our children?
ANALYSIS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTION STAFF SUPPORT FUND
(TISSF)
Level Annual
Salary
Monthly
Salary
33.3% Max.
Loan
Monthly
Rate
Repayment
Period
Estimated
Salary for
10,000,000
Monthly
Salary
Estimate
1 2594922 216,243.5 864,109.026 18,002.27 48 Months
2 3040268 253,355.67 1,012,409.24 21,091.86 48 Months
3 3366138 280,511.5 1,120,923.96 23,352.59 48 Months
4 4387475 365,622.92 1,461,029.18 30438.16
5 6649086 554,090.5 2,214,145.64 46,126.03
6 7407729 617,310.75 2,466,773.76 51,391.12
7 9476689 789,724.1 3,155,737.44 65,744.53 30,000,000 2,500,000
Proliferation of Universities
While commending the government on the moratorium placed on the
establishment of new universities, this is a matter ASUU has long
advocated. Government should have long taken our advice and put a hold on establishing new universities. For more than 10 years, our Union has
cried aloud on the harmful effects of establishing mushroom universities
that government has no plans to develop.
In total disregard for time-tested planning and ideas that hitherto went
into establishing universities, we have watched universities ,turn into
compensation for political patronage. So, ASUU was not surprised when
the Hon. Minister of Education stated that over 30 universities had zero
subscription for admission. We have drawn the attention of the
authorities to the fact that spreading scare resources over a large
surface area was meaningless and wasteful. ASUU also watched in awe,
as the Federal Government announced the 7 years moratorium, they
proceeded to announce the establishment of nine (9) new private
universities. If we agree that access is no longer an issue, why is the
NUC giving more licenses to private universities? While ASUU
acknowledge the rights of private individuals to establish universities,
education must be tightly controlled to ensure quality. Government must
therefore, promote quality education and shun profiteering in education
sector. We have 72 Federal, 108 State Universities, 159 Private
Universities bringing it to a total of 339 Universities, giving each state
and the FCT an average of 9 Universities, excluding
Polytechnics/Colleges of Education. So why not place a moratorium on
both public and private? Past and present administration must cover their faces in shame for this scandalous proliferation of universities.
Though commendable, there is, a need to go further. Failure to do this
will continue to erase our universities from world rankings. University
administrations and the regulatory agency (NUC) must equally share in
the blame for wrong staff-mix highlighted in the minister’s
pronouncement.
Retirement Benefits for Professors and Other University Staff
The insistence of ASUU on the establishment of a university-based
Pension Fund Administration (PFA) was part of efforts to guarantee the
welfare of our members and other workers in the university system at
retirement. However, our union, is not pleased with the level of
commitment to the welfare of lecturers who retired since the
commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), in 2024. Our
retired colleagues continue to bear the brunt of government’s anti-
people’s policies, manifesting in galloping inflation at 21.88% and rising
cost of electricity, transportation, housing, communication, food and
medication. We will no longer tolerate a situation where those who
fought for the sustenance of the universities will be treated with such
disdain. A situation where a senior academic who has served for over 40
years ends up with a monthly salary of N150,000 is unacceptable and
cruel in the current economic realities. Our retired colleagues are battling chronic health conditions and caring for children they have
trained beyond university degree, but they remain unemployed. Our
retired colleagues are taking care of their spouses, children and
grandchildren, with paltry amount as pension. The government must
reverse this ugly trend.
UDUS NEC
Following our meeting of 16th and 17th August, 2025, NEC resolved to
give the Federal Government time to address these issues and get back
to us after their meeting of August 28. This meeting will inform the
Union of further steps in addressing our demands, and calming our
membership after over 2 years of waiting. Well-meaning Nigerians
(NIREC, NANS, Traditional Institutions and the National Assembly),
should advise government not to stampede us into any action. While we
appreciate the over 2 years of No strike, our tanks are empty and we
cannot continue this journey.
NEC and the national leadership would like to appreciate our members
for their patience with leadership, against your overwhelming vote to
embark on an action, we gave this government two (2) and a half years
to sort this issue. We want to call on our members to come out to participate in the rally across our campuses next week. This rally will
be the first shot at government, and it will signal many other things to
come. We reassure members that we will act without let or hindrance in
addressing the challenges ahead.
CONCLUSION
ASUU-NEC appreciates the patience and forbearance of our
membership since the last referendum. But the government cannot keep
the union talking forever. The general public is invited to note that
ASUU has tried several ways and strategies of resolving the conflict in
the education sector. The general public should also note that ASUU has
written several letters to the FGN drawing its attention to need to
resolve this crisis amicably. Lamentably, the FGN has always turned a
deaf ear to all our pleas. As always, it is the FGN that has consistently
pushed our union to embark on a strike action, and it is clear that ASUU
may have no other option than to embark on an action to press the FGN
to listen to our demands and do the needful. For the benefit of the doubt
these issues include:
a) Re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
b) Sustainable funding of our universities.
c) Revitalization of universities. d) Victimization of our colleges in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar
Audu University) and FUTO.
e) outstanding 25-35% salary areas
f) Promotion areas for over 4 years
