The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned of an imminent shutdown of public universities, accusing the Federal Government of deliberately pushing lecturers back to strike.
ASUU’s Benin Zone, comprising 10 universities, issued the warning on Monday during a press conference at Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State.
Speaking on behalf of the zonal coordinator, Prof. Monday Igbafen, the union said government’s refusal to honour agreements and address worsening conditions in universities was a clear indication of its attempt to cripple the system.
“We want to tell Nigerians not to hold ASUU responsible but to hold the Federal Government accountable for the paralysis that will befall Nigerian universities in a few days to come,” Igbafen said.
The union listed unresolved issues to include the signing of the renegotiated 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, implementation of reviewed conditions of service, release of withheld salaries and promotion arrears, and adequate funding for universities.
Igbafen stressed that since the suspension of the last strike in October 2022, the government has failed to actualise the promised review of lecturers’ conditions of service or sign the draft renegotiated 2009 agreement, which ASUU insists is key to resolving the crisis.
He further noted that the government remains unwilling to clear years of promotion arrears, reluctant to release withheld three and a half months’ salaries and third-party deductions, and continues to pay lip service to education funding.
ASUU also accused top government officials of neglecting public universities because their children study abroad, warning that only a satisfactory renegotiation and full implementation of agreements could halt the looming industrial action.
