By Esther Ososanya
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vowed to embark on what it described as the “mother of all strikes” if the Federal Government fails to implement the long-standing 2009 agreement designed to uplift the standard of tertiary education in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Calabar, Chairman of ASUU’s University of Calabar (Unical) chapter, Dr Peter Ubi, said the union had run out of patience with the government’s repeated failure to meet its obligations.
“The government made promises on these issues, and regrettably, we are here today to inform the Nigerian public that these undisputed issues have not been resolved for several years now. In this regard, ASUU has to embark on strike to press the Federal Government to do the needful,” Ubi said.
He noted that the impending industrial action would commence once ASUU’s national body gives the directive after its meeting scheduled for August 28.
Key Demands
The demands include:
- Re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement
- Sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities
- Payment of outstanding 25–35 per cent wage awards
- Settlement of three months’ salary arrears
- Release of promotion arrears spanning over four years
- Remittance of third-party deductions owed to staff
According to Ubi, these issues have lingered despite several attempts at dialogue. He accused the federal government of turning a deaf ear to the concerns of lecturers, thereby undermining quality education in Nigeria.
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In a related development, the Unical ASUU chapter urged the Federal Government to extend its moratorium on the establishment of new universities to cover both state-owned and private institutions.
Ubi argued that Nigeria’s 339 universities, including 72 federal and 159 private, are already overstretched and underfunded, a situation that has worsened academic quality.
“We are appealing that the moratorium be extended to private institutions to curtail the proliferation of universities without standards,” he said.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had last week approved a seven-year moratorium on new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, citing resource strain and declining standards. However, despite the freeze, the Council also gave approval for the establishment of nine new universities.
ASUU insists that until existing institutions are adequately funded and revitalised, creating new ones would further weaken Nigeria’s higher education system.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
