By Bola Bamigbola, Abiodun Nejo, Collins Agwam, James Abraham, Emem Julius, Tunde Oyekola, Isah Ojo, Animasahun Salman, and Peter Dada
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday launched coordinated demonstrations across universities nationwide, pressing the Federal Government to address unresolved demands just 48 hours before a decisive meeting scheduled for Thursday in Abuja.
From Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, to the Federal University of Lafia, University of Ilorin, University of Calabar, Abia State University, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Plateau State University, University of Maiduguri, and Osun State University, lecturers staged rallies with placards, sang solidarity chants, and threatened a fresh strike if their grievances were ignored.
Their demands, echoed across the campuses, include: full enforcement of the 2009 ASUU–FGN agreement, release of three and a half months’ withheld salaries, settlement of 25–35 per cent arrears, clearance of promotion backlogs, revitalisation of public universities, rejection of the proposed government loan scheme for tertiary staff, and replacement of IPPIS with UTAS to safeguard university autonomy.
At OAU, Branch Chairperson, Prof. Tony Odiwe, criticised the government for keeping lecturers on the same salary scale since 2009 and deliberately shelving the Yayale Ahmed renegotiation report submitted in February 2025. He cautioned that any breakdown of peace on campuses would be the government’s responsibility.
In Ekiti, Akure Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, declared at FUOYE that lecturers had reached their limits. “Our members teach on empty stomachs, live in debt, and can no longer meet basic needs. If government opts for provocation instead of responsibility, the consequences will be its burden,” he warned.
In Lafia, Branch Chairman, Sunday Orinya, condemned what he described as neglect and deceit by the government, lamenting that some lecturers had died from poverty and hardship. He repeated calls for the payment of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and increased funding of universities.
At Plateau State University, the protest was joined by Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shedrack Best, and ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, who decried poor pay, unpaid allowances, and the imposition of IPPIS, saying it endangered institutional autonomy.
