ASUU Accuses Nigerian Government of Deliberate Education Neglect as Renegotiation Stalls

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stark warning that Nigeria’s federal government is systematically undermining the nation’s future through its continued failure to address long-standing issues in the higher education sector.

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Decade-Long Negotiations Yield Minimal Progress

Speaking at a press conference in Makurdi, ASUU Nsukka Zone Coordinator Comrade Christian Opata revealed that despite over a decade of negotiations and signed agreements, the government has consistently frustrated progress through “deliberate delays and selective implementation.” The union represents eight universities across the region, including major institutions like the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Benue State University.

“The federal government is deliberately killing the future of our nation through its lip service to education,” Opata stated. “The slow pace and purposeful delays in concluding the renegotiation portend grave danger for our society.”

Salary Offer Dismissed as Insufficient

The recent breakdown in negotiations centers on what ASUU describes as an inadequate salary proposal from the government. During their National Executive Council meeting in Taraba State, members rejected the offer, characterizing it as “a mere drop in the ocean” that was even lower than what was offered and rejected in 2022.

Opata questioned whether the government “has lost its records or is deliberately buying time,” emphasizing that the current compensation fails to meet basic needs. He highlighted that a professor’s monthly salary cannot cover a return flight from Lagos to Abuja, while senior lecturers struggle to fund their research publications.

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Economic Constraints or Political Will?

Countering government claims of limited resources, ASUU pointed to revenue figures from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) showing significant growth in both federal and state revenues between 2022 and 2024.

“It is not economic hardship but lack of political will that has stalled the renegotiation process,” Opata asserted, dismissing the payment of arrears and withheld deductions as being framed as major concessions when they represent basic obligations.

Growing Brain Drain Crisis

The union warned that only a radical review of lecturers’ welfare and substantial investment in public universities can stem the accelerating brain drain affecting Nigeria’s education sector. With compensation failing to keep pace with inflation and research needs, many qualified academics are seeking opportunities abroad.

“Our take-home pay can no longer take us home,” Opata lamented, capturing the financial strain facing university staff across the country.

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One-Month Window for Resolution

ASUU revealed that its recent decision to suspend warning strikes was influenced by appeals from Nigerians, students, parents, and labor groups who called for dialogue. However, the union expressed disappointment that the government has yet to demonstrate genuine commitment since talks resumed.

The union has given the government a one-month window to conclude the renegotiation process, warning that failure to do so could plunge the university system into another round of crisis.

Call for Broader Pressure

ASUU is now urging traditional rulers, labor unions, students, and civil society organizations to pressure the government to honor its commitments. The union maintains that continued neglect of tertiary education represents nothing less than the deliberate destruction of Nigeria’s future.

Source: Daily Trust