ASUU urges Nigerians to press FG on unresolved issues

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Abuja Zone has called on Nigerians to urge the Federal Government to settle the union’s outstanding issues and avert another industrial action. At a news conference in Abuja, Prof. Al‑Amin Abdullahi, Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Abuja Zone, and Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, Chairman of the University of Abuja chapter, stressed the need for the government to address these concerns.

The union is demanding the renegotiation and full implementation of the 2009 ASUU Agreement, which covers academic autonomy, funding, staff welfare, and the revitalisation of public universities. Unresolved matters also include the release of withheld salaries, payment of unpaid arrears, and settlement of third‑party deductions. Although the government has made proposals, the union says the offers are inadequate and lack a genuine commitment to implementation.

ASUU suspended its two‑week warning strike on 22 October, giving the government a one‑month deadline to complete negotiations and demonstrate sincere commitment to the proposals. Nearly four weeks have now passed, and the government has not made effective use of the goodwill period; the administration has failed to show the urgency required to address the persistent problems afflicting public universities.

The consequences of unpaid salary awards, withheld wages, unremitted deductions and chronic underfunding are severe: academic calendars are prolonged, financial burdens increase, and students’ learning journeys are disrupted. The national project of building competent future leaders, innovators and professionals is being seriously undermined.

The union acknowledges some government actions, such as the release of certain third‑party deductions and partial payment of promotion arrears, but views these steps as confidence‑building gestures rather than a genuine resolution of the core issues. The ASUU Abuja Zone includes institutions such as the University of Abuja, Federal University of Technology Minna, and Nasarawa State University Keffi, among others.

ASUU stresses that sincere negotiation—not propaganda—is the best way to revitalise public universities. With continued government inaction, the union may be forced to employ every lawful tool at its disposal to protect public education and safeguard its members’ interests. The situation remains critical, and the union’s next steps will be closely watched as the deadline for resolution approaches.