…University lecturers rally across Nigeria as frustration grows over unpaid salaries, broken agreements, and rejected education policies
By Douglas Princemola
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday staged a nationwide protest across university campuses in Nigeria, renewing calls for the Federal Government to urgently address longstanding issues, including the implementation of the 2009 agreement, unpaid salaries and allowances, and improved funding for public universities.
The one-day protest, which took place simultaneously in multiple institutions, saw lecturers march peacefully with placards, chant slogans, and deliver messages to government representatives. ASUU leaders described the protest as a warning and stated that an indefinite strike may begin if no action is taken by August 28.
From Akure to Abuja, Ibadan to Minna, Nsukka to Uyo, ASUU branches across the country mobilized for the protest. At the Federal University of Technology Akure, lecturers expressed dissatisfaction with the continued neglect of their welfare. They claimed they are owed between 25 to 35 percent in unpaid salary arrears, as well as allowances and promotion backlogs.
At the University of Ibadan and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education in Oyo, members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) joined the demonstrations. Placards carried messages urging the government to sign the agreement and save the educational system.
ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, said the rally was meant to warn the government. He stated that if no tangible response is made before the August 28 meeting, the union would be left with no option but to embark on a full-scale strike.
One of ASUU’s central demands is the full implementation of the renegotiated 2009 agreement. This agreement includes commitments to better funding for universities, salary structure improvements, and regular academic allowances. ASUU expressed disappointment that, more than a decade later, successive governments have failed to honour the agreement.
At the University of Abuja, lecturers revealed that they are owed over three months of salaries. They also said there has been no salary review since 2009, despite an agreement mandating a review every three years. Promotion arrears dating back five years remain unpaid.
At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, ASUU members also declared readiness to join an indefinite nationwide strike. Staff at the University of Uyo and Federal University of Technology Minna also shut down activities and joined the protest, voicing their grievances over poor working conditions and unpaid entitlements.
ASUU also rejected a recent government loan proposal intended for staff and students. The union described the offer as inappropriate, saying the government should fulfil existing obligations instead of offering debt-based alternatives. Lecturers said they do not need loans but rather the payment of their rightful entitlements.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also expressed support for the protest and threatened to take action if the government fails to respond. Student leaders said they would mobilize mass protests that could affect roads, airports, and public offices. According to them, repeated strikes disrupt academic calendars and cause long-term damage to students’ futures.
As the August 28 deadline approaches, ASUU is demanding that the government sign and implement the renegotiated agreement, settle all salary and promotion arrears, and prioritize meaningful investment in education. If these demands are not met, the union has warned that a full nationwide strike will be inevitable.
Millions of Nigerian students may once again face academic disruption, raising further concerns about the stability and quality of higher education in the country.
