On Tuesday, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) staged coordinated protests across campuses nationwide to press home long-standing demands from the Federal Government, ahead of a crucial meeting scheduled for Thursday in Abuja.
From University of Calabar, to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Federal University of Lafia, University of Ilorin, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Abia State University, , Federal University of Technology Akure, Plateau State University, University of Maiduguri, and Osun State University, lecturers marched with placards, chanting solidarity songs and warning of an imminent strike if government continued to ignore their plight.
The demands remained consistent across the campuses: implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, release of three and a half months withheld salaries, payment of outstanding 25–35 per cent salary arrears, promotion arrears, revitalisation of universities, rejection of the government’s proposed tertiary institution staff loan scheme, and adoption of UTAS over IPPIS to preserve university autonomy.
In OAU, ASUU Chairperson, Prof. Tony Odiwe, said lecturers had remained on the same salary scale since 2009 and accused the government of deliberately dragging feet on the report of the Yayale Ahmed renegotiation committee submitted in February 2025.
He said the government would be held responsible if industrial peace on campuses collapsed.
Also ASUU’s Akure Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, warned that at FUOYE, patience among academics had reached a breaking point.
“Our members teach on empty stomachs, live in debt, and can no longer afford basic needs. If the government chooses provocation over responsibility, then it alone must bear the consequences,” he said.
In Lafia, ASUU Branch Chairperson, Sunday Orinya, accused the government of deceit and neglect. He lamented the deaths of lecturers due to pauperisation and hardship. He reiterated demands for withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and proper funding of universities.
In Sokoto, protests drew members from three universities, with UDUS Chairman, Prof. Nurudeen Almustapha, demanding immediate implementation of the Yayale Ahmed report and describing the government’s loan scheme as a “poisoned chalice.”
In Plateau State University, ASUU members were joined by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shedrack Best, and the National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna. They lamented poor salaries, non-payment of allowances, and enforcement of IPPIS, warning that the autonomy of universities was under siege.
UNICAL Branch Chairperson, Peter Ubi, accused the government of destroying trust and pushing members into debt, while in Maiduguri, ASUU members protested poor retirement benefits, unpaid arrears, and the renaming of the institution after former President Muhammadu Buhari without consultation.
In UNILORIN, protesters carried placards reading “University workers are not slaves” and “Honour your agreement with ASUU.”
Branch Chair, Dr. Alex Akanmu, said federal government’s refusal to implement its own agreements had further pauperised lecturers and left the university system near collapse.
In Akure, FUTA ASUU Chair, Prof. Pius Mogaji, condemned the government’s “reckless indifference” to the Yayale Ahmed report and warned that “all options remain on the table.”
In Umuahia, Abia State University lecturers carried placards rejecting the government loan scheme and lamenting unpaid salaries.
In UNIOSUN, Chairperson, Dr. Wende Olaosebikan, criticised non-payment of salary increments and alleged victimisation of lecturers.
Across the campuses nationwide, the lecturers warned that if the Federal Government failed to act decisively at Thursday’s meeting, the fragile calm on campuses would give way to the mother of all strikes nationwide by its members and affiliates unions.
