The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned that Nigeria’s public universities could face another round of industrial unrest over what it described as the Federal Government’s failure to fully implement agreements reached with the union.
Speaking during a press conference in Sokoto on Thursday, the ASUU Sokoto Zone accused both federal and state governments of neglecting key welfare, funding and policy commitments affecting lecturers and the wider university system.
The union’s Zonal Coordinator, Abubakar Sabo, said delays in implementing the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement were already creating tension across campuses nationwide.
According to him, although the agreement was publicly signed and presented in January 2026, the government has yet to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee responsible for overseeing execution of the deal.
Sabo said the delay had resulted in inconsistencies and selective implementation of the agreement by different university authorities.
“The continued delay in addressing these issues is capable of provoking avoidable industrial unrest in the university system,” he warned.
ASUU said several universities have not implemented the agreed 40 percent salary increment linked to Consolidated Academic Tool Allowances, Earned Academic Allowances and Professorial Allowances.
The union also listed unresolved issues affecting lecturers, including:
- Outstanding arrears from the 25–35 percent salary award
- Promotion arrears
- Salary shortfalls linked to the IPPIS payment platform
- Unremitted deductions and union dues
- Withheld salaries from the 2022 ASUU strike
- Delayed pension payments for retired academics
According to the union, many state-owned universities, especially in Northern Nigeria, are also struggling with unpaid earned allowances, absence of governing councils and non-payment of annual increments dating back to 2020.
The union criticized the Federal Government’s support for the proposed establishment of a Nigerian campus of Coventry University under the Transnational Education framework.
ASUU argued that encouraging foreign university expansion could weaken local institutions and increase Nigeria’s educational dependence on external systems.
“The proposed establishment of a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria undermines local universities and promotes educational dependency,” the union stated.
The lecturers’ union also opposed proposals to scrap some humanities and social science programmes, insisting that all academic disciplines remain important for national growth and development.
ASUU further expressed concern over worsening insecurity across Northern Nigeria, saying banditry, kidnapping and communal violence were affecting both teaching and learning activities.
“Banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and communal conflicts continue to threaten lives, livelihoods and educational activities, particularly in Northern Nigeria,” Sabo said.
The union called on governments at all levels to tackle insecurity, poverty and unemployment while investing more seriously in public education.
Although ASUU said it remained open to dialogue and constructive engagement, it warned that continued neglect of agreements and worsening conditions in universities could trigger another nationwide crisis in the tertiary education sector.
