*Rejects FG’s tertiary institution loan scheme, calls it ‘Greek gift’

Academic activities in Nigeria’s public universities may soon be grounded as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on what it described as the “mother of all strikes” at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025.

The looming strike, ASUU said, is in response to the Federal Government’s failure to implement the 2009 agreement reached with the union.

Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, the University of Calabar (UniCal) chapter disclosed that all branches of the union have been placed on standby, awaiting final directives from the NEC.

Chairman of the UniCal chapter, Dr. Peter Ubi, said it was time for the government to honour the lingering agreement designed to improve the standard of university education in the country.

It would be recalled that ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, has repeatedly called on the Federal Government to implement the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the union, warning of imminent strike action should the government continue to renege on its commitments.

On Tuesday, the union also staged a nationwide protest against what it described as the Federal Government’s persistent neglect of its long-standing demands. ASUU particularly rejected the recently introduced Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund loan scheme, describing it as a “Greek gift.”

Dr. Ubi revealed that the planned industrial action would commence if, after the August 28 NEC meeting, the government still refuses to meet the union’s demands. These include the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, sustainable funding for public universities, and revitalisation of the university system.

The union is also demanding payment of the outstanding 25–35 per cent wage award, three months’ salary arrears, over four years of promotion arrears, and the remittance of third-party deductions.

“The government made promises on these issues, and regrettably, we are here today to inform the Nigerian public that these undisputed matters have remained unresolved for years,” Ubi said.

“ASUU has explored several strategies to resolve the crisis in the education sector. Unfortunately, the government has consistently turned a deaf ear to our demands, pushing us towards another strike. In this regard, we have no choice but to press the Federal Government to do the needful,” he added.

The chapter, however, commended the Federal Government’s decision to halt the establishment of new federal universities, urging state governments to follow suit and stop what it described as the “unnecessary proliferation” of poorly funded institutions.

“We already have 72 federal universities and 159 private universities, bringing the total to 339 nationwide — averaging nine universities per state and the FCT, excluding polytechnics and colleges of education. We are also appealing that the moratorium be extended to private institutions,” Ubi noted.

At the University of Jos, the chapter chairperson, Dr. Joseph Molwus, described the government’s tertiary loan initiative as “a poison chalice designed to impoverish lecturers rather than improve their welfare.”

“How can the government ask us to borrow money to pay for healthcare, school fees, and basic needs when it still owes us withheld salaries, allowances, and arrears?” he queried.

At the University of Lagos, ASUU members staged protests, carrying placards demanding the payment of arrears, improved welfare for staff, and full renegotiation of the 2009 FG–ASUU agreement. Similar demonstrations were reported at the University of Benin, Federal University Gusau (Zamfara), Federal University Dutse (Jigawa), and several other campuses.

ASUU accused the Federal Government of deliberately ignoring the plight of lecturers while failing to honour its commitments under the 2009 agreement. The union insisted that rather than pushing loan schemes, the government should release funds to clear its outstanding obligations, including unpaid salaries, earned academic allowances, promotion arrears, revitalisation funds, wage awards, and unremitted third-party deductions.

The union warned that the government’s continued inaction has left lecturers in despair, jeopardising the industrial peace universities have enjoyed for the past two years.

It further reminded President Bola Tinubu of his 2022 campaign promise that university strikes would not happen under his administration, stressing that unless urgent steps are taken, the country risks another prolonged shutdown of academic activities.

ASUU, however, maintained that it remains open to dialogue but cautioned that patience is running out, warning that public universities could soon slide into yet another round of crisis unless the Federal Government urgently addresses its demands.