By Ibukun Emiola
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ibadan Zone, on Thursday warned that the non-implementation of the December 2025 agreement reached with the Federal Government could trigger fresh industrial unrest in Nigerian universities.
The union gave the warning at a press conference held at the University of Ibadan.
The Ibadan Zone comprises the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osun State University, Kwara State University and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education.
Speaking on behalf of the zone, the Coordinator, Dr Biodun Olaniran, said the Federal Government has yet to fully implement key components of the agreement signed with ASUU in December 2025.
According to him, although some financial components such as the Consolidated Academic Tool Allowance (CATA) and Professorial Allowance have been partially implemented, other aspects, including the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), remain unattended to.
“It is unfortunate to note that five months after signing the agreement, reports from our universities, both federal and state-owned, indicated either partial or outright non-implementation of the agreement.
“This glaring lack of respect for the product of collective bargaining is stretching the patience of our union to the limit,” he said.
Olaniran said the union had continued to keep universities open in spite of frustrations, warning that the government’s inaction could jeopardise industrial harmony on campuses.
He also faulted the Federal Government for allegedly failing to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee expected to oversee execution of the agreement.
The ASUU coordinator further listed unresolved welfare issues affecting members to include withheld salaries from the 2022 strike period, promotion arrears, unremitted third-party deductions and the outstanding 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage award arrears.
He described the withholding of lecturers’ salaries and deductions as unfair despite their contributions to research and training of Nigerian students.
According to him, many retired professors in state universities are also yet to receive their pension benefits.
The union called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and other stakeholders to urgently intervene and prevent another crisis in the university system.
On education policies, ASUU rejected the Federal Government’s plan to encourage the use of English language in early childhood education in place of mother tongue.
The union also opposed the proposed Transnational Education framework expected to facilitate the establishment of a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria.
It equally criticised the proposed Nigeria Education Repository Databank (NERD), arguing that forcing students to upload project reports before mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps could violate intellectual property and data protection rights.
ASUU further condemned what it described as political interference in the appointment of vice-chancellors and other principal officers in universities.
The union also criticised an alleged move by the Niger State Government to reclaim the Bosso campus of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
According to the union, such a move could undermine collaboration between federal and state governments in advancing university education.
Speaking on the state of the nation, ASUU decried worsening insecurity, economic hardship and rising public debt.
The union cited the recent kidnapping of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State as evidence of growing insecurity in the South-West.
It also criticised the removal of fuel subsidy without adequate palliatives, saying Nigerians were bearing the brunt of rising transportation costs and inflation.
ASUU urged both federal and state governments to introduce improved welfare programmes to cushion the effects of economic hardship on citizens.
The union reiterated its readiness to continue engaging government but warned that the growing frustration among academics could erupt into another round of industrial action if unresolved issues persist.
