The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared that public university lecturers have demonstrated more than enough patience in their long-running demands for improved welfare and revitalisation of Nigeria’s universities.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said lecturers have endured years of sacrifices despite government’s repeated neglect, stressing that they deserve their entitlements and a better working environment.
“We’ve been on this matter for such a long time. In our view, we have always shown patience, understanding, and pursued dialogue to resolve these issues. Yet, since 1999, the story has remained the same—strikes and closures. The real question is: what does the government think about these recurring actions?” Piwuna said on Wednesday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
He lamented the slow pace of government response, despite several engagements with the current administration.
“Since this government came into power over two years ago, we have engaged its officials. This is already the second Minister of Education under this administration. We have engaged Prof. Tahir Mamman and now Dr. Tunji Alausa, yet the machinery of government seems to move at a frustratingly slow pace. Why can’t it be more efficient and responsive?”
Piwuna emphasized that ASUU had gone out of its way to keep schools open, but warned that the patience of university lecturers should not be mistaken for weakness.
“We think we have demonstrated enough patience. We’ve kept the schools open, while the government has also tried to do the same. But there must be a genuine effort to resolve these issues permanently,” he added.
On Tuesday, ASUU members staged a nationwide protest to draw attention to what they described as the Federal Government’s persistent neglect of their long-standing demands.
The union had earlier issued a warning on August 21, 2025, threatening a nationwide strike if the government failed to address its concerns.
Among the unresolved issues are the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, outstanding salary arrears, withheld promotions, and the welfare of retired lecturers.
ASUU also accused the government of ignoring multiple letters urging dialogue, saying it was being pushed towards industrial action against its will.
“It is clear the Federal Government leaves us with no other option but to take action. We cannot continue to plead endlessly while our universities deteriorate and our members suffer,” the statement read.
The union insisted that it is still committed to dialogue but maintained that unless government shows concrete commitment, a strike may become inevitable.
