Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ibadan Zone, has called on the Federal Government to urgently implement the Yayale Ahmed report, submitted in February 2025, to avert a potential strike in public universities.
Speaking at a press conference in Ibadan on Monday, August 25, 2025, Prof. Biodun Olaniran, ASUU Ibadan Zone Coordinator, emphasized the need for immediate action to honor the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government Agreement.
“The Yayale Ahmed report is a critical roadmap to resolve long-standing issues. Its implementation is essential to restore trust and ensure industrial harmony,” Olaniran stated.
The Ibadan Zone, which includes ASUU branches at the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, and Kwara State University (KWASU), raised concerns over several unresolved issues.
These include the victimization of ASUU members at Lagos State University (LASU), Kogi State University (KSU), and Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), as well as unpaid salary increments of 25-35 percent and third-party deductions.
Olaniran criticized the continued use of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) template for salary payments, despite ASUU’s rejection of its inefficiencies.
“The IPPIS platform has failed our members, leaving many unable to fund their children’s education or meet basic needs, forcing them to borrow,” he lamented.
He also highlighted the non-payment of promotion arrears, some pending for over four years, and the failure to mainstream Earned Academic Allowances, which has exacerbated financial struggles and contributed to brain drain in Nigeria’s universities.
The union expressed frustration over the government’s delay in acting on the Yayale Ahmed report, which encapsulates years of negotiations.
“Our members are tired of empty promises. The government’s sincerity will be judged by how it handles this report,” Olaniran warned, noting that a planned meeting on August 28, 2025, raises cautious hope but skepticism about tangible outcomes.
Olaniran also condemned the erosion of university autonomy, particularly the unlawful dissolution of governing councils before their tenures expired.
“This impunity undermines the integrity of our universities and must stop,” he asserted.
Reflecting on past negotiations, Olaniran cited the unimplemented draft agreement from the 2021 Prof. Nimi Briggs-led committee as evidence of the government’s lack of commitment.
He urged Nigerians to press the Federal Government to act swiftly to prevent disruptions to the academic calendar.
“We’ve been patient, but our patience is wearing thin. Implementing the Yayale Ahmed report is the path to sustainable funding, autonomy, and progress in our universities,” he concluded.
The press conference was attended by ASUU branch chairpersons from the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, LAUTECH, UNIOSUN, KWASU, and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, signaling unified support for the zone’s demands.
NAN
