The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) via its Bauchi Zone has warned of an impending nationwide strike, if the government doesn’t act on its demand.
At a press conference at Plateau State University on Monday, ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Mr Timothy Namo, said the government has shown little interest in solving the demands towards improving university education in Nigeria, despite sufficient warnings.
In October, 2025, the academic staff union suspended the two-week warning strike it began on October 13, 2025, following renewed commitments from the federal government and the National Assembly to address the union’s demands.
He said, “Barely one week to the expiration of the four-week window given to the government, nothing substantial has been achieved.”
He described the salary increase offered by the government as “a drop in the ocean, far below expectations to reverse the brain drain syndrome that has crippled the university system across Nigeria.”
“There is no sufficient evidence from the government’s response so far to suggest that education is a priority in Nigeria and that the government truly desires to avert a crisis in the universities,” Mr Namo added.
Mr Namo further noted that states received N3.92 trillion in 2022 and N5.81 trillion in 2024, while the federal government received N3.42 trillion in 2022 and N4.65 trillion in 2024, representing increases of more than 62 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively.
“These statistics confirm that it is not lack of funds but lack of political will and misplacement of priorities that make education suffer in Nigeria,” he insisted.
The union called on traditional rulers, civil society organisations, student bodies, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the National Assembly to intervene to prevent another disruption of academic activities.
Mr Namo also urged the government to use the remaining days of the negotiation window wisely, saying the surest way to safeguard the nation’s future is through massive investment in education.