Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned of an impending “mother of all strikes” if the Federal Government fails to implement the long-standing 2009 agreements aimed at improving Nigeria’s university education system.
This statement came from the University of Calabar (Unical) chapter during a press conference held in Calabar on Tuesday.
The UNICAL ASUU Chairman, Dr. Peter Ubi, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “It is time for the Federal Government to honor the lingering agreements designed to elevate the standard of university education in Nigeria.”
He confirmed that the union is prepared to launch industrial action following the national body’s meeting on August 28.
Among the union’s demands are the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, sustainable funding for universities, and the revitalization of academic institutions.
Ubi also highlighted unresolved issues, including the payment of a 25-35% wage award, three months’ salary arrears, promotion arrears spanning over four years, and unremitted third-party deductions.
“The government has made promises on these matters, but regrettably, these issues remain unresolved for years,” Ubi lamented, adding, “ASUU has exhausted various strategies to resolve this conflict, but the government’s inaction has left us with no choice but to strike.”
In addition to its call for action, the UNICAL ASUU chapter urged the government to extend its recent moratorium on new federal universities to include state and private institutions.
Ubi commended the government’s decision to halt the establishment of new federal universities, noting, “With 72 federal universities and 159 private universities, totaling 339 across the country, we are appealing for this moratorium to cover private institutions to curb the proliferation of substandard universities.”
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Federal Government recently imposed a seven-year moratorium on new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, citing overstretched resources, underutilized institutions, and declining academic quality.
The decision, approved during a Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, followed a presentation by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
However, NAN also reported that nine new universities were approved despite the freeze, raising questions about the policy’s consistency.
ASUU’s warning underscores the deepening crisis in Nigeria’s education sector, with the union vowing to press the government until its demands are met.
