By John Umeh
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has signaled readiness to embark on what it describes as the “mother of all strikes”, insisting it will no longer tolerate the Federal Government’s continued neglect of long-standing agreements.
At a press briefing in Calabar on Tuesday, the University of Calabar (UNICAL) chapter declared that the union’s national leadership would take a final decision after its scheduled August 28 meeting.
Dr. Peter Ubi, chair of the UNICAL branch, said the strike would be total and indefinite if the government failed to implement commitments dating back to the 2009 renegotiated agreement, which he said was designed to reposition the Nigerian university system.
Unresolved Demands
According to Ubi, the government has repeatedly reneged on promises to:
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Complete the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.
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Provide sustainable funding and revitalisation of Nigerian universities.
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Settle outstanding wage awards of 25–35 per cent.
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Pay three months’ salary arrears and promotion arrears of over four years.
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Address the non-remittance of third-party deductions.
“We have engaged the government through dialogue, consultations, and appeals, but the issues remain unresolved. It is unfortunate that ASUU is once again pushed to the wall. This looming strike is not our choice—it is the last resort to force the government to act responsibly,” Ubi stated.
Proliferation of Universities
Beyond funding and welfare issues, the Calabar chapter also raised concerns about the unchecked proliferation of universities in the country. While commending the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the establishment of new federal institutions, ASUU urged that the moratorium be extended to state and private universities.
Nigeria currently has 72 federal universities and 159 private ones, in addition to state-owned institutions, bringing the total to 339 universities nationwide. Ubi argued that the spread had not translated into improved standards but instead left the sector overstretched and underfunded.
Federal Government’s Position
The government had earlier imposed a seven-year freeze on creating new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, citing poor funding, under-utilisation of existing facilities, and declining quality. The decision was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) under President Bola Tinubu, following a presentation by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
However, despite the moratorium, the FEC recently approved the establishment of nine additional universities, raising questions about the consistency of the government’s policy.
Looming Crisis
With the latest ultimatum, Nigeria’s public universities face the prospect of another prolonged shutdown—one that could paralyze academic activities nationwide and disrupt the academic calendar for millions of students.
“ASUU does not enjoy strikes,” Ubi emphasized, “but we will not fold our hands while government continues to treat public education with disdain.”
