The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the Federal Government to prioritize adequate and consistent funding for public universities, stressing that proper investment in education remains the only sustainable solution to end recurring strikes and enhance Nigeria’s global university rankings.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund at the National Assembly on Friday, ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, warned that without consistent funding, the challenges plaguing Nigeria’s higher education sector would persist.
Piwuna explained that the union’s ongoing two-week warning strike stems from unresolved issues dating as far back as 2011.
“We engaged the Federal Government for eight years without tangible results. The Yayale Ahmed Committee report, submitted in December 2024, was ignored until this industrial action began,”
Piwuna stated.
He reiterated that ASUU’s demands — including sustainable funding, improved conditions of service, revitalisation of public universities, and academic autonomy — remain unchanged.
The ASUU president challenged the Senate to push the Federal Government toward fulfilling its obligations.
“Try us. Push government to fund universities adequately, and you’ll see the end of strikes and the improvement of our universities in global rankings,”
Piwuna told the lawmakers.
On funding delays, Piwuna revealed that although ₦150 billion was approved for universities, only ₦50 billion had so far been released — and even that amount, he claimed, was stuck at the Ministry of Education. He alleged that the minister planned to share the funds among universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, despite separate allocations for those institutions.
He insisted that the ₦150 billion approved for universities must be used strictly for its intended purpose.
Meanwhile, ASUU raised concerns over alleged attempts by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take a portion of the 10,000 hectares of land belonging to the University of Abuja.
“We are worried because the University of Abuja is located in the FCT. Anyone serious about higher education should focus on developing it, not taking its land,”
ASUU stated.
“If the minister wants land, he should look elsewhere. Despite repeated calls, he continues to show interest in acquiring part of the university’s land. We appeal to the Senate to intervene and ensure the university’s land remains untouched.”
ASUU had declared a two-week warning strike beginning October 13 over unresolved issues, including the implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, withheld salaries, and sustainable funding for university revitalisation.
In response, the Federal Government maintained that it had met most of ASUU’s demands and was open to further dialogue to prevent a prolonged industrial action. However, it also insisted on enforcing the no-work, no-pay policy against striking lecturers.
