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Tag: ASUU

  • Academic activities halted in LASU as ASUU, SSANU begin indefinite strike

    Academic activities halted in LASU as ASUU, SSANU begin indefinite strike

    All academic halted in Lagos State University on Thursday over unresolved issues with the university management.

    Comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union, and National Association of Academic Technologists, the Joint Action Committee announced the decision in a letter dated July 31, 2025, addressed to Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.

    The notice was signed by ASUU-LASU Chairman and Secretary, Prof. Ibrahim A. Bakare and Sylvester O. Idowu, as well as SSANU-LASU Chairman and Secretary, Oluwaseyi Lawal and Waheed Majekodunmi.

    They directed all members of staff of the university and its affiliate campuses at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja and Lagos State University, Epe campus to withdraw their services and vacate their official duty posts with immediate effect.

    Sequel to the decision reached at the Emergency Congress of the Joint Action Committee of the Lagos State University Staff Unions (ASUU-LASU, SSANU-LASU, NAAT-LASU & NASU-LASU) that an INDEFINITE STRIKE ACTION should commence effective from Thursday 31st July, 2025, we write to notify you that the indefinite strike action has COMMENCED in Lagos State University,” the statement read.

    “The strike action will be in force INDEFINITELY until all the demands of Staff Members are met by the appropriate authorities.

    “Consequently, all members of staff of the University and its affiliate Campuses (LASUCOM and LASU Epe Campus) are hereby DIRECTED to withdraw their services and vacate their official duty post with immediate effect.

    While we thank you for your kind gesture and support always, accept, please, the assurances of the Unions’ kindest regards.”

    The university students were supposed to commence the 2024/2025 second semester examination next week, on Monday.

  • We’re still on strike – Yobe varsity ASUU

    We’re still on strike – Yobe varsity ASUU

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Yobe State University (YSU) chapter, said it has not called off the strike it embarked upon on July 11.

    Its Chairman, Dr Ahmed Karage, made this known in a statement in Damaturu on Monday.

    He said that although the consequential adjustment for the N70,000 minimum wage was implemented in July, the union’s other demands had not been met by the state government.

    Karage listed the unaddressed demands to include the implementation of academic staff promotions as approved by the university council and payment of promotion arrears from 2018 to 2025.

    Others are the payment of arrears for minimum wage consequential adjustment from 2019 to 2024, 35-25 per cent salary award for Professors and other ranks from 2023 to 2025 and arrears of N70,000 minimum wage from January 2024 to June 2025.

    The chairman called on the public to bear with the union, promising that the strike would be called off after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the union and the state government.

  • ASUU told to shelve nationwide strike

    ASUU told to shelve nationwide strike

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to shelve its planned strike over delay in the payment of June salary to its members.

    NANS made the appeal in a statement signed by its National Vice President on Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Felicia Akinbodunse, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Akinbodunse said that any industrial action by ASUU now would destabilise the stable academic calendar universities had enjoyed since the past two years.

    Recall that the leadership of ASUU on Monday confirmed that a directive had been issued for all branches of the union nationwide to withdraw their services over the delay in the payment of June 2025 salaries to its members.

    The union cited the enforcement of the “No Pay, No Work” resolution.

    ASUU chapters in two federal universities, the University of Jos and the University of Abuja, have already commenced strike action in compliance with the directive.

    President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, who confirmed the development to the media in Abuja, said that the institutions were simply complying with the resolution from the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union.

    He explained that the resolution directed that any month members’ salaries were delayed beyond three days; they should withdraw their services until the salaries were paid.

    Akinbodunse, however, appealed to ASUU to to reconsider their stand and shelve the strike, noting that students were always at the receiving end any time the academic union embarks on a strike.

    She said that rather than withdrawing their services in universities across the country, the leadership of ASUU should engage the federal government in order to resolve the matter without any face off.

    She recalled that since the inception of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, strikes by ASUU had reduced drastically and students had continued to enjoy uninterrupted academic sessions.

    She expressed optimism that engaging with the federal government in dialogue on the issue of delayed salary payment, would resolve the matter without the need by ASUU to down tools.

    Akinbodunse added that students and their parents could not afford any disruption in the academic calendar, particularly in the face of the economic situation, appealing to the leadership of the academic union to be considerate.

    She also appealed to the federal government to address the issue of delay in the payment of salary of the university lecturers and to find a lasting solution to it.

  • ASUU starts nationwide strike over non-payment of salaries, says no salary no work

    ASUU starts nationwide strike over non-payment of salaries, says no salary no work

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has began a nationwide strike over the non-payment of June 2025 salaries.

    The strike followed a resolution by the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU.

    The resolution enforces a strict “No Pay, No Work” policy.

    According to the resolution, if lecturers’ salaries are delayed by more than three days into a new month, industrial action becomes inevitable.”

    ASUU branches at the University of Jos and the University of Abuja have already downed tools in compliance with the directive, while others are expected to follow suit in the coming days.

    The ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, who confirmed the development on Monday, July 7, described the move as a response to the recurring financial hardship lecturers face due to persistent delays in salary payments.

    Piwuna attributed the worsening situation to the federal government’s transition of university payrolls from the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

    Piwuna condemned what he called the “nonchalant attitude” of key government officials toward the welfare of university lecturers.

    The ASUU President added that despite efforts to engage the Minister of Education and the Office of the Accountant General, the union has seen “no meaningful progress.”

    “Our members are experiencing hardship. Salaries are often delayed by a week or more. At NEC, we agreed that if salaries are not paid within three days of a new month, members should withdraw their services,” he said.

    Piwuna also dismissed claims of technical issues with GIFMIS, saying the delays are the result of deliberate negligence by the Office of the Accountant General.

    “When funds are eventually released, there are no complaints of underpayment or technical failure. The system works; it’s the handlers who are stalling. We believe this delay is intentional,” Piwuna stated.

  • ASUU Kano zone disowns petition by YUMSFUEK academics

    ASUU Kano zone disowns petition by YUMSFUEK academics

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kano Zone, has distanced itself from a petition issued by a group of academics from the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano (YUMSFUEK), alleging irregularities in the institution’s leadership process.

    The petition, jointly signed by Dr Bashir Ibrahim and five others, was addressed to the Minister of Education.

    The petition demanded the removal of the Chairman of the Governing Council of YUMSFUEK and criticised the council’s alleged attempt to appoint a new vice chancellor without following due process.

    However, in a statement issued on Saturday in Kano, the ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Prof Abdulkadir Muhammad, said the institution was not a recognised branch of the union.

    He clarified that YUMSFUEK is yet to attain observer status, adding that only chartered branches of ASUU are authorised to issue petitions or press statements in the union’s name.

    “It is important to state that only a chartered branch of ASUU can legitimately issue a petition or press statement in the name of the union,” Muhammad said.

    He said while ASUU supports strict compliance with due process in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in Nigerian public universities, the union was not involved in matters relating to YUMSFUEK.

    “We wish to inform the public and all relevant stakeholders that the petition did not emanate from ASUU but from a group of academics at YUMSFUEK,” he said.

    Muhammad urged members of the public to disregard any correspondence from the university’s academics that was presented under the ASUU’s name.

  • ASUU threatens nationwide strike

    ASUU threatens nationwide strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to honour the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement or face a nationwide industrial action.

    ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, issued this warning during a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

    He stressed the importance of the government fulfilling its promises and addressing the worsening conditions in Nigerian universities.

    According to Piwuna, nine critical issues remain unresolved, including the stalled renegotiation process since 2017.

    He mentioned withheld salaries from the 2022 strike and unpaid entitlements linked to the contentious Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    Piwuna also criticised the delayed release of revitalisation funds and earned academic allowances due to government inaction.

    In spite of promises to inject ₦150 billion into universities and adjust irregular allowances by 2026, he said these commitments remain unfulfilled.

    He highlighted the marginalisation of ASUU members at state institutions such as Kogi State University and Lagos State University.

    According to him, victimisation, salary denial, and job insecurity persist in those universities, undermining staff morale.

    On university autonomy, he said political interference has compromised the selection of leaders, citing Nnamdi Azikiwe and Abuja universities as examples.

    Piwuna warned that universities are becoming battlegrounds for political and economic interests, which he described as unacceptable.

    He called for a national rebirth through education, saying it is vital for Nigeria’s transformation and prosperity.

    To address the crisis, he proposed a national education summit focusing on funding, autonomy, and academic welfare.

    “Education empowers citizens, drives innovation, and instils values. Without it, development is impossible,” Piwuna said.

    He reaffirmed ASUU’s commitment to reforming Nigerian universities and urged patriotic Nigerians and global allies to support their struggle.

    “Our universities should be centres for solutions to national challenges.

    “We are open to dialogue but will not tolerate further erosion of our rights,” Piwuna said.

  • UniJos sets agenda for new ASUU president

    UniJos sets agenda for new ASUU president

    The University of Jos Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has advised Prof. Christopher Piwuna, the newly elected President of the union to vigorously pursue its agenda.

    Prof. Jurbe Molwus, Chairperson of ASUU in UniJos, gave the advice when he formally presented the new president to members of his chapter.

    Molwus, who presented Piwuna to the congress on Thursday in Jos, urged him not to deviate from the core struggle of the union.

    He said that apart from members’ welfare, the new president must pursue issues around quality of university education, standard of living of Nigerians, dwindling economy, among others.

    “Our expectation is that he will continue to exemplify the characters for which he is known for; he is a very honest and truthful person.

    “He’ is also a very fearless, courageous and very emotionally intelligent person; we expect nothing but good result from this combination of character in one person.

    “He must consolidate and pursue the existing agenda of the union, and this is why among all our demands, none is bigger than the other.

    “Our desire for the revitalisation of the university is also as important as our welfare issues.

    “ASUU went on strike in 2022 over some demands, those issues have not been resolved, and so we urge the new president to pursue those demands vigorously,” Molwus urged.

    The Chairperon, however, advised the new president to consolidate on the gains and progress made by his predecessors.

    Also speaking, Prof Tanko Ishaya, the Vice Chancellor (V-C) of the university, thanked ASUU for considering one of his staff to be its leader.

    Tanko also urged Piwuna to pursue an agenda that would stabilise university education in the country.

    “The new president has a very huge task because our university system needs a lot of work.

    “We need a lot of intervention from government; a lot of issues that need to be addressed in order to make our universities optimally functional,” the V-C said.

    Piwuna, a Professor and Consultant Psychiatrist, was elected the 14th national president of ASUU.

    Piwuna, the immediate past Vice President of ASUU, was elected president at the 23rd National Delegates’ Conference of the union, held at the University of Benin, Edo State.

  • ASUU threatens to sue JAMB over UTME mass failure

    ASUU threatens to sue JAMB over UTME mass failure

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) branch, has threatened to sue the Joint Matriculation Board (JAMB) over massive failure recorded in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam (UTME).

    The Chairman of ASUU-UNN, Comrade Óyibo Eze, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Nsukka on Wednesday.

    Oyibo said the massive failure which mostly affected candidates from the South East, was a deliberate attempt by JAMB to stop children from the zone from getting admission.

    “My office has been inundated with protests, calls and visits by parents and the general public on this deliberate massive failure in 2025 JAMB examination.

    “ASUU will challenge this result in High Court if JAMB fails to review the result and give candidates their merited scores .

    “JAMB knows that children from South East must score higher before they can get admission whereas their counterparts in some parts of the country will use 120 JAMB score to get admission to read medicine in universities in their area.

    “In the JAMB recently released result, out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 examination, over 1.5 million candidates scored less than 200 and majority of these are from the South East and Lagos State where many Igbos reside,” he said.

    He called on governors from the South East to rise up and challenge this injustice targeted towards preventing children from the zone from gaining admission into higher institutions in the country.

    “The governors in the zone should not sit and watch JAMB toy with academic future of our children.

    ”I am not against the board punishing those found guilty of exam malpractice but JAMB should not, because of these few candidates, fail the whole candidates in an exam centre,” he said.

    The ASUU boss said that it was unbelievable and unacceptable that in the whole University Secondary School, Nsukka, no candidate that sat for the exam scored up to 200 in the UTME.

    “This school has superlative students who have excelled in academics both inside and outside the school, how come all of them scored less than 200 in the exam.

    “Even if JAMB discovered one or two candidates for exam malpractice, is that enough reason to fail all others who have prepared very hard for that exam,” he said.

    Oyibo advised JAMB to act fast to do the needful by reviewing the result as that massive failure had become a national issue which might attract national protest if nothing urgent was done.

  • How UNIJOS professor of mental health emerged 14th ASUU President

    How UNIJOS professor of mental health emerged 14th ASUU President

    A professor of mental health at University of Jos, Chris Piwuna, has emerged the new President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    Piwuna’s was announced the winner following the election that took place on Sunday night in Benin to end the union’s 23rd National Delegates Conference.

    The new ASUU president polled 216 to defeat Prof. Adamu Babayo of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, who got 118 in a keenly contested race.

    He succeeded Emmanuel Osodeke, a professor of soil science from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia.

    The respected academic and mental health expert served as ASUU Vice President, known for his firm stance on university revitalisation and staff welfare.

    Piwuna would lead the union for two years.

    For the position of the Vice-President, Dr Austen Sado of University of Port Harcourt, who polled 232 votes, defeated the outgoing Treasurer of the union, Prof. Olusiji Sowande of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, who got 174 votes.

    Similarly, Adamu Peter, the Chairman of the Kaduna State University chapter of the union, emerged the new Treasurer.

    Peter got 296 votes to triumph over Prof. Denis Aribodo of Nmamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, who polled 106 votes.

  • ASUU elects Chris Piwuna as new President

    ASUU elects Chris Piwuna as new President

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has elected a consultant psychiatrist at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Prof. Chris Piwuna, as its new national president.

    Piwuna, who also serves as the Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos, succeeds Prof. Victor Osodeke, a Professor of Soil Science from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.

    The election took place during the union’s 23rd National Delegates Congress held in Benin on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

    The race was between Piwuna and Prof. Adamu Babayo of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

    Prior to his emergence as president, Prof. Piwuna was the union’s Vice President.

    The election process reportedly concluded at about 3:00 a.m. on Monday.