The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says negotiations with the Federal Government over long-standing disputes are ongoing and nearing conclusion, even as the union’s one-month ultimatum to avert an indefinite strike draws to a close.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclosed this during the Toyin Falola Interview tagged “Conversation with ASUU President,” held virtually on Sunday night. The event, anchored by eminent scholar Prof. Toyin Falola, attracted more than 1.2 million participants from 27 countries. Panelists included the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella; Prof. Francis Egbokhare; and Mrs. Grace Edema of The Punch Newspapers.
Piwuna revealed that the union’s National Executive Council meeting, held in Taraba State, was wrapping up discussions on key demands. He expressed optimism that the union would issue a definitive position within the next two weeks.
“We hope that in the next week or two, we’ll go back and be able to give a definite statement on what needs to be done,” Piwuna said. “But what is very clear is that what the government is offering us as salary is not acceptable, and we are ready to go to any length to fight for fair compensation.”
He lamented that Nigeria’s public university system continues to operate as though it were “stuck in the 17th century,” citing poor salaries, inadequate funding, and decaying infrastructure.
“Our salaries are insufficient, and public universities lack the endowments and infrastructure required for growth,” he said. “Wealthy individuals, including billionaires, have no interest in public university education. They invest only in private universities.”
Piwuna explained that the limited gains achieved by the union over the years were the result of persistent struggle, not government goodwill. “Our colleagues work tirelessly, often sleeping in their offices and bringing their families to campus, yet they cannot secure endowments or improve available resources,” he said.
He identified lack of coordination within government and a profit-driven mindset as key reasons behind the country’s education crisis. According to him, many top government officials do not see education as a shared national concern, resulting in fragmented responses to ASUU’s demands.
“When ASUU threatens a strike, the Minister of Finance sees it as the Education Minister’s problem; the Minister of Science and Technology views it as someone else’s issue. This mindset prevents a coordinated response,” he said.
Piwuna also criticized the “capitalistic ideology” driving public policy, saying it undermines investment in education. “We in ASUU view education as a public good essential for national development. But many officials see it only through a profit lens,” he noted. “Funds meant for development, like TETFUND allocations, have become marketplaces for profit rather than tools for improving universities.”
In his opening remarks, Prof. Falola said the session sought to generate practical and lasting solutions to the persistent crises confronting Nigeria’s public education sector and similar systems across Africa.
Falola stressed that Nigeria’s challenges mirror those of other African nations, calling for collective and strategic interventions to strengthen education and promote sustainable development across the continent.
