Stop Creating New Universities, Fix Existing Ones, ASUU Tells FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure Zone, has accused the Federal Government of misrepresenting the state of negotiations with the union and condemned the continuous establishment of new universities, describing them as “crisis centres.”

Speaking during a press briefing at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Thursday, ASUU Akure Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, criticised the Federal Government for approving new universities despite its own seven-year moratorium on creating additional tertiary institutions.

The moratorium, approved during a Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, was meant to address concerns over the proliferation of poorly funded and under-utilised universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. However, nine new universities including one in Epe have since received approval.

Egbedokun, joined by chairmen of ASUU branches across the Akure Zone, expressed disappointment that existing universities remain severely underfunded while the government continues adding new institutions.

He said, “A few months ago, the government announced a seven-year moratorium on creating new tertiary institutions. One of our longstanding demands is an end to the reckless proliferation of universities at both federal and state levels. Rather than expand, why not fund what already exists?

“It was agreed that for seven years, no new licences would be issued. But just days ago, we heard that a new university had been approved. The government must stand by its word. Is seven years suddenly the same as seven days?”

On the stalled renegotiation of the ASUU–FG agreement, Egbedokun noted that the union rejected the salary adjustments proposed by the government, describing them as “tokenistic and insulting,” adding that such an offer would neither stem the brain drain nor restore dignity to the profession.

“In clear terms, the union has rejected the offer of a 35% increase on the current salary of academics. While some progress has been made in non-monetary areas, the core issues of salary and conditions of service remain unresolved and require bold intervention,” he said.

He criticised the “deliberate distortion of facts” by some government officials, stressing that partial payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2017, and the delayed release of third-party deductions owed to members, should not be paraded as achievements.

With less than a month left in the window given to the government to act on the union’s demands, Egbedokun urged the authorities to “act with clarity, commitment, and integrity to reach a comprehensive and lasting resolution.”

“Nothing short of a fair and respectable living wage for Nigerian academics is acceptable. The surest way to secure Nigeria’s future is to invest meaningfully in education,” he added.

The union reiterated its demands, including: completion of the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU–FGN Agreement, payment of outstanding 25/35% salary arrears, settlement of promotion arrears, release of withheld third-party deductions, and sustainable funding for universities. Failure to respond, he warned, could lead to industrial action across campuses.

ASUU leaders present at the briefing included Prof. Anthony Odiwe (OAU), Prof. Bamidele Mogaji (FUTA), Prof. Sola Afolayan (EKSU), Dr. Abraham Oladebeye (UNIMED), Dr. Abayomi Fagbuagun (FUOYE), Dr. Babatope Ogundare (BOUESTI), and Dr. Bosun Ajisafe (Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo).

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education recently clarified that presidential approval for the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, Lagos State, was granted before the Federal Executive Council announced the seven-year moratorium. Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, confirmed that the universities in Epe, Kachia, and Ogoniland were approved “through a Presidential Executive Memo prior to the FEC’s decision.”