…threatens to resume strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government of deceiving Nigerians with claims that it has released ₦2.3 billion to clear salary and promotion arrears of university workers, saying no such funds have been received in any institution.
In a press statement signed by Jurbe Joseph Molwus, chairperson of ASUU, University of Jos branch, the union described the government’s announcement as “misleading” and a deliberate attempt to downplay the realities faced by university lecturers.
Molwus recalled that ASUU had on October 22, 2025, given the Federal Government a four-week ultimatum to meet its outstanding demands or face the resumption of its suspended strike. According to him, two weeks after the ultimatum, there has been no meaningful progress.
“As ASUU mobilises for its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled to hold on the 8th and 9th November, 2025, we expect that some of the outstanding entitlements such as 3.5 months withheld salaries, 25/35% wage award arrears, promotion arrears, unpaid salaries of some members etc would have been paid to University workers by now.
“But all we get is press releases by the Honourable Minister of Education. What we need is credit alerts and not misleading releases. We hope the FGN has not gone to sleep as usual after the strike was suspended,” the statement read.
The union also faulted Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, for claiming that ₦2.3 billion had been released to clear arrears in all federal universities, describing the figure as grossly inadequate and almost insulting.
“Again, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, was quoted to have said in a recent release that “THE FG HAS RELEASED N2.3BILLION TO CLEAR SALARY AND PROMOTION ARREARS IN ALL FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES.” But, as we speak right now, the university workers have yet to receive any such alerts. So, the minister’s claim of clearing backlog may be in the fiction of his imagination. He also claimed to have strengthened academic staff welfare, and we ask HOW?,” Molwus said.
“However, the big question for the minister to answer is: Can a meagre N2.3 billion settle the backlog of promotion and salary arrears of all federal university workers? Absolutely, NO. The truth is that the amount of N2.3 billion is like a drop in the ocean because it can hardly take care of 3 big universities in Nigeria. The amount is grossly inadequate and almost embarrassing if not insulting,” he added.
He further alleged that even the ₦50 billion revitalisation fund the government claimed to have released weeks ago has yet to reach the universities. “We do not know why the Minister of Education is still keeping it,” he added.
Expressing frustration over what he termed the government’s “habitual insincerity,” the ASUU chairperson said only genuine engagement not public rhetoric, would resolve the lingering disputes between the union and the government.
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Molwus also questioned the competence of the Minister of Education to handle issues affecting tertiary education, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider appointing a more capable individual who understands the challenges in the university system.
“If the President truly wants to make history by ending the long-standing crisis in the university sector, he must bring in someone who genuinely understands the problems. Otherwise, ASUU should not be blamed if it resumes its suspended strike after November 21,” the statement warned.
ASUU maintained that its earlier strike was only suspended out of goodwill and respect for the collective bargaining process, urging the Federal Government to reciprocate by fulfilling its obligations to university workers.
“Our members are losing patience as they await payment of their legitimate entitlements and a signed agreement with the government,” Molwus said
