ASUU’s Nsukka Zone says the Federal Government is pushing it into shutting universities by refusing to fully implement the 2025 ASUU/FGN Agreement.
At a Thursday press conference in Benue State University, Makurdi, Zonal Coordinator Comrade Christian Opata and other leaders warned the government’s handling of the deal could spark another national university crisis.
“The Federal Government is taking the unproductive route that it is used to. Before the signing of the 2025 ASUU/FGN Agreement, the FGN forced our members to embark on strike actions over the 2009 Agreement. As it currently stands, the FGN is at it again trying to force us to embark on another round of actions over the 2025 Agreement,” he said.
Opata said the agreement, signed on January 14, 2026, has been implemented “partial, distorted and largely abandoned.” He blasted the failure to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) and accused the government of sidelining ASUU in plans for a National Research and Innovation Development Fund announced by Education Minister Dr. Maruf Alausa after the April 7, 2026 FEC meeting.
“ASUU, one of the parties to the agreement, was not involved whatsoever, a clear sign of breach of the said agreement through deliberate attempts to sideline the union,” he stated. The union also rejected the proposed funding and noted the agreement calls for at least one per cent of GDP for research. “One wonders how the Minister came about the $500 million he mentioned as being benchmarked for the fund,” the union queried.
Opata listed more grievances: non‑integration of CATA, EAA and PA into CONUASS; some states not honouring the deal; unpaid arrears from the 25–35% award, promotion arrears, unpaid third‑party deductions, pension remittances, IPPIS shortfalls and withheld 2022 strike salaries. “As at the time of filing this press conference, our members are yet to be paid,” Opata said.
ASUU also decried interference by governing councils and VCs, citing an attempt at Benue State University to overturn a Deputy VC appointment, and alleged dubious professorial promotions — four cases under probe at Federal University Lokoja. It mourned delayed pensions — naming the late Prof. Targema Iorvaa, said to have died without retirement benefits — and opposed downgrading indigenous languages. “It portends grave danger to auto-centric development as the thought patterns that would birth the expected development are first processed in borrowed language; English,” the union argued.
ASUU urged stakeholders to pressure both federal and state governments to fully implement the 2025 agreement. National Investment Secretary Prof. Celestine Aguoru warned strike is a last resort, saying many universities are on borrowed time and the union won’t stand by. He said an emergency meeting will be held by early June to decide next steps and advised Nigerians to blame the Federal Government if universities are shut down.
Nsukka Zone covers Benue State University, Makurdi; Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo; Kogi State University, Anyigba; Federal University Lokoja; Federal University Wukari; and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
