The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has frowned at the delay by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in concluding the ongoing renegotiation of its agreement with the union.
In a statement issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Taraba State from November 8 to 9, 2025, ASUU warned that the government’s slow pace in addressing the matter could have “grievous consequences” for the nation’s education sector.
The statement, signed by ASUU president Chris Piwuna, noted that the union reviewed the progress of discussions with the federal government’s negotiating team and was disappointed by what it described as a lack of commitment and sincerity in the renegotiation process.
ASUU recalled that at its emergency session on October 21, 2025, it resolved to suspend its warning strike in good faith, despite the government’s “grossly insufficient offers.”
According to the union, the decision to suspend the strike was based on the expectation that the government would utilise the one-month window to conclude the renegotiation process meaningfully.
“ASUU NEC regretted that government functionaries are undermining the negotiation process through subtle misrepresentation of its offers and implementation of agreements.
“The part payment of promotion arrears dating as far back as 2017 and the release of third-party deductions, which form part of members’ unpaid benefits for years, are at best confidence-boosting gestures and must not be framed as substantive issues of the negotiation process.
The government’s approach to the implementation does not reflect reality, and this strategy poses imminent danger to the renegotiation because it casts doubt on the fidelity of its proposals. The objective must not be to win the narrative but to solve the problems,” the statement partly read.
ASUU asked Mr Tinubu’s government to use the remaining days of the one-month window “judiciously” to achieve a holistic resolution of the lingering issues, particularly those related to improving the living and working conditions of Nigerian academics.
The union also lamented that the federal government continues to treat education as a commercial venture rather than a public good essential for sustainable national development.
“Education, as the bedrock of any society, deserves special attention—more so in Nigeria, given the deficit in our education infrastructure.
“That the lot of academics and education has remained unchanged in a positive direction in recent years remains a wonder,” it added.
ASUU also faulted government claims of economic constraints, arguing that both federal and state revenues have increased significantly in recent years.
Citing data from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), the union noted that state revenues rose from N3.92 trillion in 2022 to N5.81 trillion in 2024, while federal revenues increased from N3.42 trillion to N4.65 trillion within the same period.
“It is the political will—or lack of it—and not economic factors that have been undermining the resolution of this renegotiation process, as the revenue profile above clearly supports this claim,” the statement further read.
The union, however, called on traditional rulers, labour unions, students, and civil society organisations to prevail on the government to do the right thing and give lecturers a living wage.
