The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed disappointment and frustration over the Federal Government’s continued neglect of its demands, despite several negotiations and agreements.
The union made this known at a press conference held at the University of Port Harcourt(Uniport) on August 26, 2025 after emerging from a Congress convened by the Uniport Branch.
At the Press Conference, the Chairperson of ASUU-Uniport, Omeh Ngwoke recalled the 2009 agreement, which was signed after a three-month strike action, and noted that its full implementation has been a mirage, leading to series of strike actions, including those of 2020 and 2022 that lasted for ten and eight months, respectively.
The union identified several issues that have remained unattended to, including poor remuneration for academic staff, revitalization of Nigerian public universities, funding of Nigerian public universities, poor learning and teaching facilities, university autonomy, and academic freedom.
He highlighted the poor salaries of lecturers, which have hit an abysmal low due to the constantly rising inflation in the country.
He revealed that the monthly salaries of Nigerian lecturers after statutory deductions are as follows:
Graduate Assistant: N169,192.78 ($109)
Assistant Lecturer: N200,201.47 ($130)
Lecturer II: N220,285.48 ($143)
Lecturer I: N283,229.40 ($183)
Senior Lecturer: N420,389.79 ($273)
Reader: N465,920.54 ($302)
Professor: N590,092.01 ($383)
Ngwoke noted that the 2009 agreement was supposed to be renegotiated every three years to reflect the prevailing economic realities, but this has not been done due to government’s shenanigans.
He also recalled the several renegotiation committees that have been inaugurated by successive administrations, but none has been able to achieve the desired result.
He said: “The union expressed disappointment that the current administration, which came onboard in May 2023, has not taken significant decisions towards concluding the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.”
The Union also rejected the recently launched Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), describing it as a “distraction” and a “snare” aimed at further impoverishing its members.
According to Ngwoke, the loan is a deviation from the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which would improve the purchasing power of lecturers and decrease their reliance on loans.
He noted that the government could have used the money earmarked for the loan to defray the three and a half months’ salary owed to lecturers.
He cited several reasons for rejecting the TISSF, saying: “The loan will further impoverish its members, who are already heavily indebted. The loan will incapacitate university-based cooperative societies.
“The government should prioritize addressing the poor remuneration of academic staff and the proliferation of public universities without adequate funding.”
In order to send a strong message to the Federal Government, emphasizing the need for urgent attention to the welfare of academic staff and the plight of tertiary education in Nigeria, the union embarked on a peaceful demonstration brandishing placard with different inscriptions such as, “We can no longer pay our children’s school fees,” ” Honour the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement.”
The Union, however, commended the Federal Government for the recent 7-year moratorium placed on the establishment of public universities, while expressing disappointment at the licensing of 9 new private universities, bringing the total number to 150.
Meanwhile, the Union called on all well-meaning Nigerians, including the Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Traditional Institutions, and the National Assembly, to prevail on the Federal Government to address the lingering issues.
Ngwoke, warned that it can no longer guarantee the continued pacification of its hungry and angry members, urging the Fderal Government to use the forthcoming stakeholders meeting on August 28 as a good opportunity to avert industrial disharmony.
He also urged the government to take concrete steps to address the union’s demands and improve the welfare of academic staff.
