Tension Builds as ASUU Announces Protest Across Campuses on August 26

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared Tuesday, August 26, 2025, as a day of protest across campuses nationwide to demand urgent government action on lingering issues affecting lecturers and public universities.

In a brief message posted on its official Facebook page, ASUU said the protest is to register its “strong dissatisfaction with the government’s persistent neglect” of the union’s demands.

The union’s President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, had earlier, in a statement dated August 8, 2025, warned of a looming crisis if the federal and state governments continue to ignore their obligations.

ASUU accused the government of failing to honour key aspects of the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement, particularly provisions on lecturers’ welfare, funding, autonomy, and academic freedom. The union also lamented poor working conditions, unpaid arrears, stalled promotions, and what it described as “corruption-prone systems” like IPPIS.

According to Piwuna, lecturers are “teaching on empty stomachs, researching in poorly equipped laboratories, and working under severe personal and professional hardships” while successive governments fail to address their plight.

ASUU also condemned the politicisation of university governance, citing controversies surrounding vice-chancellor appointments.

The union stressed that only a comprehensive collective bargaining agreement fully addressing welfare and working conditions can avert another nationwide strike.

“The time to act is now,” ASUU warned, calling on patriots and stakeholders to press the government into action.