The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has firmly dismissed the Federal Government’s recently launched loan program for tertiary institution workers, urging the administration instead to honor the longstanding 2009 pact.
The union further demands an extension of the ban on establishing new universities to include private institutions.
During a press conference held on Thursday at the University of Jos, ASUU president Christopher Piwuna outlined the union’s critical objections to the federal plan unveiled a fortnight ago – the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund. Designed to provide welfare and empower academic and non-academic personnel, the scheme has been described by union leaders as insufficient and untimely.
Piwuna branded the loan offer a “poisoned chalice”, cautioning members to avoid participation due to already high levels of personal debt.
He emphasized,
Our colleagues are inundated with loans from various sources, what we urgently require is the government’s commitment to enhancing salaries and working conditions through the recognition of our renegotiated contract. This will reduce dependency on credit societies…we cannot accept continued neglect of those dedicated to sustaining Nigerian universities.
The union leader outlined the core demands anchored in the 2009 agreement, including improved service conditions, university autonomy, safeguarding academic freedom, augmented funding, and reviewing laws governing regulatory bodies like JAMB and NUC. He noted that despite the submission of the Yayale Ahmed Report in February 2025, the government has procrastinated on renegotiation talks.
Piwuna warned of a nationwide strike if no satisfactory progress emerges from upcoming discussions, urging members to prepare for collective action.
The union condemned the government’s decision to introduce a credit scheme while withholding approximately three and a half months’ salaries owed to staff.
The financial resources earmarked for loans should instead be redirected to settle outstanding pay
To rally support and demonstrate unity, ASUU announced plans for a nationwide campus protest in the coming week, marking a pivotal response to government policies. The union also appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to encourage the government to negotiate sincerely rather than provoke confrontation.
Our members do not lack where to find loans, indeed, they are already deep in debt from such loans. What we need now is for the government to sign our renegotiated agreement, which will improve our purchasing power and decrease our reliance on debts from cooperative societies…trust has been destroyed by the government, it is, therefore up to them to regain it to avert any strike – Piwuna
The ASUU president also cautioned,
We cannot disregard one of the core principles of the organisation; Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). We urge the government to return to this principle to address the issues in our draft agreement.
ASUU has expressed their readiness to act decisively based on the outcomes, with the government scheduled to meet the union on August 28, 2025. Stakeholders await whether the talks will foster reconciliation or escalate tensions between both parties.
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