Three months post the activation of the latest agreement, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has stated that the Nigerian government has not honored multiple components of the accord, which was intended to put an end to the continual disputes and strikes within the university sector.
In December, both parties ratified what was deemed a pivotal ASUU-FG 2025 agreement, with enforcement expected from January.
This agreement, which represented a new negotiation of the 2009 terms, followed years of tensions and strikes disrupting academic schedules in Nigerian public universities.
When revealing the agreement in January, Education Minister Tunji Alausa characterized it as a resolution to industrial conflicts in Nigerian universities.
Addressing doubts regarding the execution of the agreement, Minister Alausa assured that the financial commitments associated with it have been acknowledged in the 2026 budget, and directives have been distributed to align the other stipulations.
"Today marks the end of strikes in our institutions," Mr. Alausa stated as he elaborated on the agreement's particulars during a ceremony in January.
However, ASUU President Christopher Piwuna has indicated that full implementation has yet to commence, as many lecturers continue to suffer from salary discrepancies.
In a phone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Professor Piwuna clarified that the earned academic allowances intended to be integrated into academic salaries remain unaddressed.
Additionally, some institutions have reported difficulties in fulfilling the full salary payments for sabbatical staff, despite such payments being stipulated in the agreement.
Professor Piwuna further mentioned that certain universities have also not provided the professorial allowances promised to academics at the doctoral level, as outlined in the agreement.
Concerning the education budget, while the Minister mentioned that the allowances were adequately included in the N3.52 trillion education budget proposed by President Bola Tinubu, the appropriation bill is yet to be enacted into law.
Mr. Piwuna expressed apprehension that the stagnation in budget passage is testing the tolerance of academic staff.
"Currently, we recognize that the attention of those responsible for passing the budget is diverted to party primaries, conventions, and 2027 electoral concerns. We aim to highlight that our primary focus in the union is the full implementation of our agreement," he remarked to our reporter.
"We do not resent their political activities, but we want to remind them of our commitment to the complete enforcement of our agreement. Our focus is steadfast and unaffected by their agenda, and they should continue their engagements as planned."
While Mr. Piwuna noted that the union has not threatened industrial action, he admitted that members' patience is dwindling.
"We have exhibited significant patience, but we are nearing the end of our forbearance," he cautioned.
In October, the government formed a sixth committee to renegotiate the 2009 agreement, completing the negotiations and harmonization.
The accord encompassed a 40% salary increment for academic staff and the creation of a National Research Council (NRC) with mandated funding of no less than 1% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
It also included provisions ensuring that professors would receive a pension equivalent to their annual salary upon retirement at the age of 70.
Moreover, the agreement encapsulated the government’s commitment to granting greater autonomy to universities and enhancing academic freedom, alongside better financial support for research, library facilities, laboratories, equipment, and staff development programs.
Additional benefits included a professorial allowance of N1.7 million per year for full professors and N840,000 per annum for senior academics categorized as Readers.
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