By David Torough, Abuja

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again raised the alarm over the Federal Government’s persistent failure to honour past agreements, warning that another nationwide strike may be imminent.

ASUU’s new President, Professor Chris Piwuna, at a press conference in Abuja on Friday criticised the government’s inaction on critical issues affecting Nigerian universities.

Piwuna demanded the immediate implementation of all Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Action (MoAs) signed since 2013.

ASUU emphasised that fixing Nigeria requires fixing its universities, which are plagued by poor funding, stalled agreements and government neglect.

The Union also demanded the release of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike and payment to lecturers on part-time and sabbatical appointments affected by the IPPIS payroll system, while condemning political interference in university administration, unlawful appointments, and the undermining of institutional independence.

It further called for an education summit, proper implementation of past agreements, and a stop to the misuse of TETFund resources. It warned it will not remain passive while its members’ rights are trampled.

ASUU urged the government to resolve all outstanding issues to avoid further disruption. While open to dialogue, the union signaled potential industrial action if demands are ignored, reaffirming its commitment to the struggle for quality education.

“Almost three decades since Nigeria’s return to civilian governance, it is not yet Uhuru. The country is still pathetically trapped in the web of multifaceted political malfeasance graphically sign-posted by prebendal politics, mindless manipulation of electoral processes, brazen nepotism, and deliberate subversion of people’s will at every level of governance.

“The sum total of all these is that transparency and accountability have become rare commodities in the hands of the managers of the Nigerian state. Consequently, the generality of citizenry have become despondent, having lost hope and faith in government and its agencies.

“If given the desired attention, Nigeria’s universities should provide the solution ground to solving its multi-faceted and multi-dimensional problems. ASUU has remained focused in the struggle for improved funding and revitalization of these institutions.

“A starting point to achieve this noble goal is to prevail on government to address all outstanding issues in our previous engagements. This will create a conducive atmosphere for addressing the welfare issues of Nigerian academics for the optimal discharge of their statutory responsibilities as the think-tank of the country and mentors for future leaders in all aspects of national development. ASUU remains open to discussion in this respect.

“However, the Union would not continue to look helpless while the rights of its members are being trampled upon and washed away with reckless abandon.”

ASUU stated that the level of implementation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement is not encouraging, saying that although a few issues are partially implemented, many remain unaddressed.

These, it said include the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s draft agreement of 2021; release of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries due to the 2022 strike; release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS); release of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions; funding for the revitalization of public universities; payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA); concerns over the proliferation of universities by federal and state governments; non-constitution of some universities’ governing councils; and adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in place of IPPIS.

It noted that the government agreed to mainstream the EAA into salaries with the creation of an irregular allowance as a budget line in the 2026 Budget, after releasing N50 billion for the backlog and budgeting N29 billion for the payment of 2025 Earned Academic Allowances and agreed to release N150 billion as a revitalisation fund within four weeks from April 2025.

“However, we are still waiting for government to fulfil these promises. The Union has also reached an understanding with the Yayale Ahmed-led Committee, following the review of the report of the Nimi Briggs-led FGN-ASUU Renegotiation Committee in December 2024. Again, ASUU members have been left in limbo, waiting for the signing of an agreement five months after.

“Delegates at the UNIBEN National Delegates Conference exhaustively evaluated the government’s disposition in resolving outstanding issues with the Union and expressed regrets that nothing has significantly changed in the last two years.

“The irreducible minimum that can guarantee industrial harmony in the Nigerian University System (NUS) is for government to speedily address all outstanding issues including conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, payment of the withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, release of the backlog of promotion arrears, payment of withheld salaries of sabbatical and part-time lecturers on account of not signing into the discredited IPPIS, and addressing the unjust victimization of ASUU leaders and members in some state universities.

“Beyond these, we demand a faithful implementation of all issues arising from our previous Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Action (MoAs) government signed with ASUU since 2013.”

ASUU also called on state governors and visitors to these universities to, without further hesitation, resolve lingering issues and reinstate its members without delay in the interest of justice and industrial peace.

On the erosion of university autonomy, the union expressed deep concern. “ome recent developments in Nigeria’s public universities are of grave concern to our Union. We are discomfited by the ongoing attempts to completely erode the autonomy of public universities by the political class and the bureaucrats.”

By David Torough, Abuja

The Tiv Area Traditional Council during its emergency meeting held yesterday in the palace of the Tor Tiv in Gboko requested the Governor Hyacinth Alia led administration to create an enabling environment to allow herders’ peaceful exit of farmlands in Tiv Kingdom to facilitate resumption of farming activities.

Consequently, the Council directs political and traditional rulers in each local government area of Tiv Kingdom to peacefully engage the herders to ensure their exit from the local government areas to allow farming resumes.

The Council which was chaired by the Tor Tiv himself, HRM Prof James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse CFR equally appealed to all herders in Tiv Kingdom in Benue State to vacate all Tiv lands before the end of May 2025 to allow farmers return and cultivate their farms in order to avoid the looming hunger in Nigeria.

According to a Communique signed by the Secretary of the Council Mr Shinyi Tyozua which deliberated particularly on the security situation in Tiv Kingdom the Council enumerated the communities worst affected to include those in Kwande, Katsina Ala, Logo, Ukum, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West Gwer East and Buruku Local Government Areas.

The Council lamented that farming activities in the kingdom have ceased due to the occupation of farmlands by herders for grazing and attacks and killings of farmers who fled stressing that if the situation continues it will ultimately result to hunger in Tiv Kingdom and Nigeria as a whole.

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

Chairman, Senate Services, Sen. Steve Karimi has expressed concern over the spiraling insecurity in the country, which has threatened and diminishes the “good work” done by the administration of President Bola Tinubu in the last two years.