The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the federal government of breach of agreement in its handling of negotiations over the lingering issues affecting the nation’s public universities, vowing to proceed with its planned strike despite threats of a no-work-no-pay policy.
Chris Piwuna, ASUU President, speaking on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, on Monday said the government had once again reneged on agreements reached with the union, betraying the trust built during months of collective bargaining facilitated by the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Expanded Negotiation Committee.
“You cannot find common ground when you have a partner that constantly betrays you. This government acts with such dubiety that you wonder whether we live on the same earth. They tell you they’re implementing what was agreed, yet they’re doing the exact opposite.
Speaking further Piwuna said Nigerians should ask Education Minister, Tunji Alausa, why he failed to act on documents submitted to his office since December 2024. He said he didn’t see the documents until February 2025, but he did not respond to the documents until August 2025. It is unfortunate that the minister would come and feed the public with lies, claiming that government has fulfilled all its promises to ASUU. Then, Nigerians should ask him, why the need for current meeting by the committee?”
On the association’s response to no- work, no- pay policy, the President, while berating the minister for resorting to attacks on himself and the association says, “I dont respond to Threats. This minister has threatened us many times with no work, no pay. We wish him luck. We are ready to go that path again. If fear of that policy makes us accept injustice, then we are not worth anything as intellectuals.”
According to him, the committee, set up by the current administration, had successfully closed major gaps between both parties, reaching consensus on key issues such as conditions of service, sustainable funding for public universities, university autonomy, and other welfare matters.
However, Piwuna disclosed that Alausa, allegedly disregarded the committee’s recommendations and presented a new document “alien” to the original agreement. He said the new proposal offered only a 25 percent salary increase, contrary to the Nimi Briggs benchmark earlier adopted during negotiations.
“Rather than build on the report agreed upon, the minister sat down and decided to give us 25 percent of our current salaries, before tax. That is not what we discussed. That is not collective bargaining,” he said.
The ASUU president also faulted the government’s decision to exclude university lecturers from the federal workers’ group life insurance scheme, describing it as discriminatory and unjustified.
Piwuna dismissed claims that the government’s release of ₦50 billion for university revitalisation saying the amount was negligible when spread across 193 federal and state universities.
He also clarified that another ₦50 billion disbursed as earned academic allowances was only a partial payment, after government deducted 20 percent to appease other unions.
While expressing regret over the impact of ASUU’s industrial action on students, Piwuna insisted that past strikes had forced the government to improve facilities, renovate hostels, and equip laboratories in public universities.
“We regret that our students are going through this, but also said the lecturers, like students, are victims of government’s action “
ASUU has therefore called on the Federal Government to revisit the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Committee’s report and implement the agreed recommendations, warning that there would be “no going back” on its planned action until justice is done.
However, he said ASUU is ready to back today immediately thevusxues are resolved.