ASUU Warns Of Nationwide University Shutdown Over Stalled Talks

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again raised alarm over what it describes as the Federal Government’s persistent neglect of Nigeria’s public university system. Across multiple zones, union leaders are warning that unless urgent steps are taken to improve funding and conditions of service, the nation may be heading toward another prolonged shutdown of universities.

In Lagos, the union dismissed the government’s recent proposal to raise academic staff salaries by 35 percent, arguing that the offer is neither realistic nor reflective of the value of Nigerian scholars. Speaking during a press briefing at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), the Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Adesola Nassir, described the offer as “wretched and unscientific,” insisting that it leaves Nigerian academics “among the lowest paid on the continent.”

He noted that the increment does little to address the years of decline in lecturers’ earnings. “In 2009, a professor earned around $3,000 monthly. Today, that figure is barely $400,” he said. “Even with a 35 percent rise, a professor’s salary will not reach a million naira. After taxes, it crashes to about N700,000. How can anyone call that a living wage?”

Nassir warned that the consequences of such poor remuneration are already visible. “This pitiful pay inevitably fuels brain drain, lowers morale, and undermines the quality of education,” he said. “You cannot starve an institution of funding and expect excellence.”

He also highlighted the collapse in education financing over the years, lamenting that government allocations have “remained below 10 percent for a decade, and currently fall below 1 percent of the GDP.” He contrasted this with other African nations. “Egypt spends around 2 percent; South Africa is at about 6 percent. How do we compete with such weak investment?” he asked. “The funding crisis has reached a dangerous level. The future of our children is at stake.”

Nassir appealed to Nigerians to support ASUU’s push for an overhaul of education funding, warning that without meaningful commitments from the government, a full-scale strike may be unavoidable. “If the government fails to honour the 2009 agreement, only a miracle will stop the shutdown of public universities,” he said.

In Kano, union leaders echoed these concerns, stressing that negotiations with the Federal Government have slowed to a crawl. Addressing journalists on Monday, ASUU Kano Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Abdulkadir Muhammad, said the union is disturbed by the lack of urgency shown by government representatives.

“Our members are dismayed and disillusioned by the snail’s pace of renegotiation,” he said, referencing the union’s recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at Taraba State University. “The government appears unbothered. It hinders any purposeful conclusion.”

He recalled that ASUU embarked on a two-week warning strike in October, which was suspended after appeals from students, parents and stakeholders. “The suspension was to create room for sincere dialogue,” he said. “But what we hoped would be a holistic and timely resolution is gradually becoming a mirage.”

Muhammad accused certain government officials of derailing the process. “Some functionaries employ tactics to undermine negotiations and misinform the public,” he said. “They claim we have been settled, but that is propaganda. It raises doubts about their sincerity.”

He acknowledged payments such as accumulated promotion arrears and partial third-party deductions but described these as insufficient gestures. “The truth is simple: what the government has offered will not significantly improve the working conditions of academics,” he said. “It will not attract top scholars from anywhere. It will not keep Nigerian experts from leaving.”

The zone also condemned the political trend of establishing new universities without sustainable funding. “For many politicians, founding a university has become a constituency project,” Muhammad said. “This proliferation erodes standards. The Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium should also cover state institutions.”

With ASUU’s one-month ultimatum to the government nearing its end, the Kano Zone called for urgent intervention. “We appeal to all stakeholders to prevail on the government,” Muhammad said. “Addressing all outstanding issues is the only way to avert another total shutdown of our universities.”