The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to begin the implementation of the newly approved salary structure for university lecturers, warning that failure to act within the stipulated period could trigger a strong response from the union.
The warning was delivered by ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, during an address to union members at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, Bauchi State, where he expressed frustration over what he described as the government’s continued delay in fulfilling its commitments to university workers.
According to him, the union expects immediate action from the government, stressing that the issue of lecturers’ welfare can no longer be treated with indifference or subjected to prolonged administrative delays.
Piwuna said the ultimatum takes effect immediately, adding that the union would not hesitate to take decisive steps should the Federal Government fail to commence payment under the new salary arrangement within the given timeframe.
He noted that the demand is part of ASUU’s broader insistence that the government must demonstrate sincerity in addressing longstanding concerns affecting public universities and their personnel.
The ASUU president lamented what he described as the persistent failure of successive governments to honour agreements freely entered into with the union, warning that such a pattern has continued to erode trust and worsen instability in the nation’s university system.
He argued that many of the crises that have plagued Nigeria’s public universities over the years — including repeated industrial actions, disruptions to the academic calendar, and declining morale among lecturers — are largely traceable to government’s refusal to faithfully implement negotiated agreements.
Piwuna maintained that lecturers have continued to show patience and commitment to the survival of the university system despite difficult working conditions, delayed reforms, and what he called poor treatment of academic staff. He said the new salary structure should not be viewed as a favour to university workers, but as a necessary step toward restoring dignity, motivation, and productivity in the sector.
He further stressed that if the government is genuinely committed to improving the quality of higher education in the country, then the welfare of lecturers and other university staff must be treated as a priority rather than an afterthought.
The union also used the opportunity to raise concerns over recent developments in the country’s education sector, particularly discussions surrounding the proposed establishment of a branch of Coventry University in Nigeria following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to London.
Piwuna said ASUU would strongly oppose any move to allow the foreign institution establish operations in Nigeria if such a decision is pursued at the expense of strengthening local universities. He argued that rather than investing political energy and resources in creating room for foreign institutions, the government should focus on revitalising Nigeria’s own public universities, many of which continue to struggle with inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, shortage of teaching facilities, and weak research support.
According to him, the move raises serious questions about the Federal Government’s priorities at a time when Nigerian universities are in urgent need of policy support, financial investment, and institutional reforms.
He described the proposal as a troubling signal that could further weaken confidence in the local higher education system, warning that it may create the impression that foreign institutions are inherently superior to Nigerian universities. Such a development, he said, would not only undermine local institutions but also diminish ongoing efforts to improve standards through homegrown academic reforms.
Piwuna characterised the idea as a subtle form of educational colonialism, arguing that Nigeria must resist policies that appear to sideline indigenous institutions in favour of foreign brands.
He also suggested that the development was particularly questionable given reports that the foreign university in question is allegedly facing a decline in international admission applications. In his view, Nigeria should not become a convenient expansion destination for foreign institutions while its own universities remain underfunded and undervalued.
The ASUU president therefore urged the Federal Government to redirect its attention toward building a stronger and more competitive university system within the country. He said this can only be achieved through sincere engagement with critical stakeholders, especially ASUU, and through policies that support sustainable growth in teaching, research, innovation, and academic excellence.
He maintained that Nigeria has the intellectual capacity, human resources, and institutional foundation to build globally competitive universities, but this can only happen if the government shows the political will to invest in the sector and implement agreed reforms.
Piwuna added that the future of the country’s higher education system depends on deliberate and consistent support for local universities, not policies that may weaken them further or create avoidable distractions.
The latest ultimatum from ASUU is expected to place renewed pressure on the Federal Government, especially at a time when concerns are growing over the state of tertiary education and the possibility of another industrial confrontation in the university system.
For many students and parents, the development may also revive fears of fresh disruptions to academic activities if both parties fail to reach common ground within the coming days.
As the deadline approaches, attention will now be on the Federal Government’s next move and whether it will act swiftly to avert another round of tension in the nation’s public universities.
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