‎ASUU warns FG over delay in implementing 2025 agreement, laments worsening insecurity, poverty

‎The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned the Federal Government over the continued delay in implementing agreements reached with the union since December 2025, saying the situation is threatening industrial peace in Nigeria’s university system.
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‎Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday at the University of Ibadan, leaders of the ASUU Ibadan Zone expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as the government’s failure to fulfil commitments relating to funding, earned academic allowances, university revitalisation and lecturers’ welfare.
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‎The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Ibadan Zone, Biodun Olaniran, said that despite several meetings and assurances from government officials, many unresolved issues remained, causing growing concern among lecturers in both federal and state universities.
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‎According to him, the prolonged delay in implementing the agreement could disrupt academic activities across Nigerian universities if urgent action is not taken.
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‎Olaniran stated that the government’s failure to fully honour the agreement had negatively affected the quality of education, infrastructure development and the welfare of lecturers nationwide.
‎He called on the Federal Government to demonstrate sincerity by immediately releasing outstanding funds and implementing all pending aspects of the agreement to prevent another round of industrial action.
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‎“We have shown patience and restraint in the interest of students and the stability of the education sector, but the government must fulfil its obligations,” the union said.
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‎ASUU also appealed to relevant stakeholders to intervene and help prevent further setbacks in the university system arising from unresolved labour disputes.
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‎The union accused the administration of Bola Tinubu of failing to show enough commitment toward resolving the lingering crisis in the tertiary education sector.
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‎According to ASUU, while some financial components of the agreement, including Consolidated Academic and Tool Allowances and Professorial Allowances, had been partially implemented, several other components such as Earned Academic Allowances remained unpaid.
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‎The union further alleged that both federal and state governments had failed to pay some components of the agreement for up to four months.
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‎ASUU also criticised the Federal Government for allegedly failing to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee expected to oversee the smooth execution of the agreement and prevent bureaucratic bottlenecks.
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‎The union accused the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, of politicising the agreement instead of focusing on resolving the underlying issues affecting implementation.
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‎Representatives from the University of Ilorin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osun State University, Kwara State University and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education also expressed concerns over worsening insecurity in the country, particularly the rising cases of kidnapping and mass abductions.
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‎The union called on President Tinubu and governors in the South-West region to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity and prevent bandits from spreading further across the region.
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‎ASUU cited the recent kidnapping of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State as evidence of the deteriorating security situation, stressing that governments at all levels must move beyond sympathy messages and take decisive action.
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‎The union also criticised the government’s economic policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy without adequate palliatives, saying the policies had worsened hardship for millions of Nigerians.
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‎ASUU further condemned the high cost of the political process, especially election nomination forms, arguing that the situation reflected unequal access to the nation’s wealth amid widespread poverty.
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‎The union, however, commended the managements and governing councils of the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin and Osun State University for beginning partial implementation of the salary components of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement.