Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, declaring that unless urgent steps are taken to address its long-standing demands, Nigerian universities may soon grind to a halt under yet another nationwide strike.
At a press conference held at the NUJ Press Centre in Sokoto on Thursday, ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Professor Abubakar Sabo, accused the government of deliberate deceit, betrayal, and chronic neglect of the education sector.
He condemned what he described as “systematic delaying tactics” by authorities who, he said, continue to toy with the future of Nigerian students and the dignity of lecturers.
Professor Sabo stressed that the union has lost trust in government promises, warning that only immediate, genuine, and decisive actions can restore confidence and avert a crippling shutdown of public universities.
One of ASUU’s strongest objections is the controversial staff loan scheme introduced by the government. Sabo dismissed the initiative as a “poisoned chalice,” arguing that lecturers do not need loans but a fair and sustainable wage system that guarantees respect, stability, and security.
“Our members do not lack access to loans. Many are already neck deep in debt.
“What we demand is the signing and implementation of the renegotiated agreement that will enhance our purchasing power and ensure lecturers live with dignity,” he declared.
The ASUU leader further revealed that university lecturers are still being owed three and a half months’ salaries for work already completed. Instead of pouring billions into a loan scheme that does little to improve welfare, he argued, government should clear salary arrears and fulfill its contractual obligations.
He accused the federal authorities of paying only lip service to university education, reneging on agreements reached after prolonged negotiations, and deliberately abandoning commitments that could strengthen Nigeria’s tertiary system.
While welcoming the suspension of indiscriminate establishment of new universities, ASUU warned against the proliferation of ill-planned institutions, saying such practices dilute quality and stretch already scarce resources.
The unresolved grievances, he noted, include unpaid promotion arrears from 2018 to 2024 at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; the absence of a legal framework for the Federal University Gusau; non-release of take-off grants for the universities in Birnin Kebbi and Zuru; and the lack of a governing council for Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto.
According to him, government’s insincerity has pushed ASUU to the brink of fresh industrial action. “The Federal Government has left us with no choice.
“Our members cannot continue to suffer in silence while the future of Nigerian education is mortgaged by irresponsibility and neglect,” Sabo said.
The union categorically warned that unless urgent steps are taken to resolve these long-festering issues, the nation should prepare for another round of academic paralysis that could cripple the university system.
Professor Sabo emphasized that the responsibility now rests squarely on the Federal Government. “The ball is in their court. The only way to avert another crippling strike is for the government to honour agreements, prioritize the welfare of lecturers, and safeguard the survival of public universities,” he concluded.
