The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stark warning to the Federal Government of Nigeria, portending a year of protracted conflict in 2025 if their longstanding grievances remain unaddressed. ASUU characterizes the government’s 2024 efforts as superficial and cosmetic, failing to meaningfully engage with the deep-seated issues plaguing the nation’s university system. While the academic calendar proceeded uninterrupted in 2024, ASUU attributes this to the union’s own sacrifices, not to any substantive action by the government. The union accuses the government of policy inconsistency, particularly regarding the 18-year benchmark for tertiary admission, and urges President Tinubu to prioritize the review and signing of the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated agreement rather than initiating a new round of negotiations.
At the heart of ASUU’s discontent lies a series of unresolved issues, primarily centered around inadequate funding and the welfare of university staff. The union highlights the government’s failure to provide funding for the revitalization of public universities as agreed upon in previous Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and Memoranda of Action (MoA). Furthermore, ASUU demands the release of withheld salaries, third-party deductions, and arrears of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA). Other contentious issues include the perceived rise of authoritarianism in some universities, the unchecked proliferation of public universities without adequate resources, the disregard for Visitation Panel reports, the continued imposition of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) instead of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), and the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.
ASUU anticipates that these unresolved issues will define their relationship with the government in 2025. The union predicts another year of struggle and potential crisis if the government fails to demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing their concerns. They emphasize the crucial role of education in national development and implore the government to prioritize a comprehensive overhaul of the education sector, beginning with basic education. This includes providing essential facilities, improving teacher remuneration to attract qualified educators, and tackling the high rate of out-of-school children.
The union’s demands extend beyond basic education to encompass the broader welfare of university staff. ASUU calls for the immediate release of withheld salaries and third-party deductions, the disbursement of Earned Academic Allowances, and the release of revitalization funds as promised in previous agreements. Furthermore, they advocate for the swift review and signing of the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated agreement, adjusted to reflect current economic realities. ASUU argues for the restoration of lecturers’ salaries to the African average, as envisaged in the 2009 agreement, which pegged professorial salaries at $3,000, a figure significantly eroded by the devaluation of the Naira.
ASUU expresses strong opposition to the proposed tax reforms, viewing them as a threat to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), a vital source of infrastructural funding for public tertiary institutions. The union criticizes the plan to replace the education tax with a “development levy,” arguing that this would ultimately lead to the demise of TETFund by 2030. They see this move as an attempt to commodify university education, a direction they strongly oppose. Instead, ASUU advocates for a model similar to Germany’s, where education at all levels is free and adequately funded.
Finally, ASUU criticizes the 2025 budgetary allocation to education, deeming it insufficient and far below the internationally recommended benchmark of 15%-20%. The union urges the government to prioritize public universities, recognizing their vital role in providing opportunities for those who cannot afford private or overseas education. ASUU calls on its members to remain vigilant and united in the face of potential challenges and to brace for the possibility of further confrontation with the government if their demands are not met. They firmly believe that a united front is crucial in defending the quality and accessibility of higher education in Nigeria.
