The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure Zone, has issued a stern warning to the federal government, declaring that its patience is running out due to the prolonged neglect of critical issues within the university system.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, the Zonal Chairman, Professor Adeola Egbedokun, expressed deep frustration over the government’s failure to address long-standing challenges that continue to undermine higher education in Nigeria.
Key unresolved issues include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding for public universities, the unchecked proliferation of new institutions, and the inadequate retirement benefits for academic staff.
The union also raised concerns about the government’s handling of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Salary Fund (TISSF) loans and other financial obligations.
Professor Egbedokun highlighted that the report of the renegotiation committee, led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, which was submitted to the government in February 2025, has been met with what he described as “reckless indifference” for over five months.
The union leader emphasised that the government’s inaction constitutes a betrayal of trust and an insult to the principle of collective bargaining.
While acknowledging a planned government meeting on August 28, 2025, he stated that the clock is ticking and that trust has been shattered. He warned that all options remain on the table, including potential industrial action, if the government continues to ignore their demands.
Also, Egbedokun criticised the approval of new private universities while existing institutions suffer from neglect and condemned the government’s loan policy for academics, describing it as a deceptive and heartless scheme.
He called for the payment of outstanding withheld salaries and urged members to reject the loan offer. The union has scheduled rallies across campuses to signal its determination and to press the government for immediate action.
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cc: The Nation NG
