- ASUU warned of prolonged conflict with the Federal Government if unresolved issues are not addressed in 2025
- The union criticised the government’s efforts in 2024, calling them cosmetic and ineffective
- ASUU condemned the proposed "development levy" as an attempt to destroy TETFund and undermine public universities
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning that 2025 could witness a prolonged confrontation between the union and the Federal Government unless concrete actions are taken to address long-standing issues in the university system.
The union, led by Professor Ayo Akinwole of the Ibadan chapter, criticised the federal government’s efforts in 2024 as insufficient, claiming that no significant changes were made in the university sector.
In a statement on Wednesday, January 1, ASUU lambasted the government for neglecting the education system and failing to address critical issues outlined in past agreements.
These include the non-release of withheld salaries, failure to fund the revitalisation of public universities, and the continued proliferation of public universities without proper funding or infrastructure support.
Akinwole further criticised the government for policy inconsistencies, particularly concerning the 18-year benchmark for tertiary education admission and the ongoing lack of implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) in favor of the proposed UTAS (University Transparency and Accountability Solution).
One of the union's significant concerns is the government's proposal to replace the education tax with a “development levy,” which would severely impact the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
This funding body, established in 2011, has been crucial for the infrastructure development of public universities, but ASUU fears that the new levy system will undermine its role, with TETFund’s share dwindling over time, eventually ceasing by 2030.
The union described this move as an attempt to "commodify" university education in Nigeria and undermine public institutions' ability to develop.
ASUU also rejected the 2025 budget allocation to education, which is roughly 7% of the total budget, well below the international benchmark of 15%-20% for developing countries as recommended by UNESCO and the United Nations.
The union stressed that this underfunding, alongside unresolved issues like unpaid allowances and overdue salary payments, could lead to further disruption in the academic calendar and a renewed struggle for the improvement of the university system.
The statement concludes with a call to ASUU members to remain vigilant and prepared for potential unrest, urging the government to prioritize the sector and fulfill its promises to safeguard the future of Nigerian students and academic staff.
If the government fails to meet ASUU's expectations in 2025, the union predicts that another round of crisis and disruption in the university system is inevitable.
ASUU blames World Bank, IMF for deteriorating state of Nigeria’s higher education
In a previous report by TheRadar, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were accused of working to destroy Nigeria’s public higher education system by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, the National President of ASUU, revealed this during the 2024 ASUU Heroes Day event in Abuja on Tuesday, November 12.
