FG’s Promise of Immediate Response to Our Demands Unfulfilled — ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has again accused the Federal Government of Nigeria of not honouring its commitments to address outstanding issues affecting university lecturers and the nation’s public tertiary education system — despite earlier promises of urgent action.

ASUU’s Position

ASUU leaders have repeatedly stated that:

• The Federal Government has not fully responded to or implemented key demands submitted by the union, including funding increases, payment of withheld salaries and allowances, and implementation of negotiated agreements.
• There have been promises of dialogue and formal responses from FG negotiation committees, but these have not translated into meaningful action on the ground.

In statements made by union representatives during rallies and press briefings, ASUU emphasised that lecturers’ patience has worn thin after years of unfulfilled assurances, leading to further industrial actions and threats of extended strikes.

What ASUU Is Demanding

ASUU’s list of persistent concerns includes:

• Implementation of the renegotiated 2009 FG-ASUU agreement with full funding and institutional autonomy.
• Payment of withheld salaries and earned allowances to academic staff.
• Improved funding for infrastructure and revitalisation of public universities.
• Better conditions of service, wages, and promotion arrears.

ASUU leaders have described the “lack of action” by FG as a betrayal of trust and a barrier to sustainable resolution, arguing that dialogue without decisive implementation is pointless.

Government’s Response

Despite ASUU’s complaints, government officials have offered a contrasting narrative. The Federal Government has repeatedly stated that:

• It has already addressed a majority of ASUU’s demands through interventions and negotiations.
• The education minister has publicly asserted that all requests by ASUU have been met, urging lecturers to return to work rather than strike.

• FG officials maintain that ongoing negotiations are making progress and that many issues are nearing resolution.

However, ASUU insists that government claims do not reflect actual implementation and that key elements of the agreements — particularly on funding and lecturer welfare — remain unresolved.

Why This Matters

The dispute between ASUU and FG has had profound effects on Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape, including:

• Frequent strikes disrupting academic calendars and delaying student graduations.
• Erosion of trust between university lecturers and government negotiators.
• Public frustration from students, parents, and stakeholders — leading groups like the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to call for urgent resolution of the impasse.

The union’s position underscores a broader concern that promise and rhetoric alone are insufficient — sustained and verifiable government action is needed to stabilise Nigeria’s higher education sector.

Related Article: Strike: FG must pay us our four month salary arrears, SSANU insists

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is ASUU saying FG hasn’t responded to its demands?

ASUU claims that previous government assurances and negotiation outcomes have not been fully implemented on the ground, especially regarding funding, salaries, and university autonomy.

Has the government denied this claim?

Yes. Education authorities have insisted that they have addressed most of ASUU’s demands and urged lecturers to suspend strike actions.

What are ASUU’s main unresolved demands?

Key issues include payment of withheld salaries/allowances, full implementation of negotiated agreements (including the 2009 pact), and improved funding for public universities.

What actions has ASUU taken because of this?

ASUU has declared warning strikes and protests to pressure the government into action, and has threatened longer, indefinite strikes if demands are not met.

Is there progress toward resolution?

Negotiations are ongoing, and both sides have engaged in dialogue, but ASUU maintains that current government responses have been insufficient and yet to produce lasting solutions.