ASUU has warned it may shut down public universities again if government fails to act.
The union says unresolved issues and slow negotiations are creating frustration across university zones.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that it may shut down all public universities again if the Federal Government does not meet its demands before the end of its one-month ultimatum.
The warning was issued by the Kano Zonal Coordinator, Abdulkadir Muhammad, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, after a zonal meeting held in Kano. Representatives from ABU Zaria, Bayero University Kano, Kaduna State University, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Federal University Dutse, Northwest University Kano and Sule Lamido University were present.
Muhammad said the position of the zone followed the report from ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting held on November 8 and 9 at Taraba State University. He said the NEC was unhappy with the slow pace of discussions with the government, which he described as a major setback to reaching a final agreement.
He explained that the suspension of the strike in October was done to encourage dialogue and show goodwill, but added that “our hope for a holistic and timely resolution of the issues is increasingly being dashed.” He accused some government officials of misleading the public and slowing down the renegotiation process.
Muhammad stated that the government has not shown real interest in improving lecturers’ welfare or addressing the conditions that push scholars out of the country. “What government has offered will neither improve the working conditions of academics nor attract scholars from other countries to our universities,” he said.
He also urged the Federal Government to stop the creation of new state universities, saying many governors set up institutions they cannot fund.
In Edo State, the Benin Zone of ASUU also warned that it is ready to join a nationwide shutdown if directed by the union’s NEC. Zonal Coordinator Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen said the unresolved issues in the system require strong intervention. He noted that lecturers have remained on the same salary structure for over 15 years and described the situation as unfair.
Similarly, the Calabar Zone issued its own warning. The Zonal Coordinator, Ikechukwu Igwenyi, said the union will not hesitate to take action if the government continues to ignore its demands. The zone called for the completion of the renegotiation process, payment of withheld salaries, release of all third-party deductions, settlement of promotion arrears, payment of the outstanding 25–35 per cent wage award and improved funding for universities.
The union further urged the government to respect university autonomy and stop policies that weaken academic freedom.
“We gave the government a four-week ultimatum to address these issues… We shall remain unbowed, unbroken, and unwavering in this just struggle,” ASUU stated in Calabar.
