ASURI Declares Trade Dispute with ASCON DG, Threatens Nationwide Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) has declared a formal trade dispute with the Director-General of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Dr. Funke Adepoju, accusing her of gross misconduct, illegal actions and administrative incompetence.

In a letter dated January 14, 2026, and addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters, the union alleged that the ASCON Director-General had repeatedly violated statutory provisions and subjected academic staff to intimidation.

ASURI alleged that on January 12, 2026, Dr. Adepoju arrived at the ASCON premises accompanied by armed, fully motorised military personnel and compelled 18 Academic Directors and Deputy Directors to collect letters terminating their appointments on the grounds of age and length of service.

The union insisted that the action contravenes the ASCON Establishment Act, the Public Service Rules and the Conditions of Service governing academic staff in research and tertiary institutions. According to ASURI, existing laws and government directives clearly provide that academic staff of ASCON and similar institutions retire at 65 years, not 60.

ASURI also accused the Director-General of sustained intimidation of staff, absentee leadership and questionable financial practices. It warned that her continued leadership could undermine the integrity of ASCON and potentially embarrass the Federal Government at the international level.

The Secretary-General of ASURI, Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, said the union had begun mobilising members across research and allied institutions nationwide to resist what he described as a “dangerous precedent” capable of leading to the casualisation and humiliation of academic staff in Nigeria’s research sector.

He said ASURI was issuing formal notice of an impending nationwide strike and picketing in protest against what it described as persistent violations of the ASCON Establishment Act, unfair labour practices and the alleged lack of requisite experience and competence required to administer the institution.

Professor Ndubuaku stated that the union’s demands include the immediate reinstatement of the affected academic staff and the removal of Dr. Adepoju as Director-General. He warned that failure to address these demands would trigger a nationwide strike across research and allied institutions.

ASURI further argued that the alleged undermining of ASCON’s statutory framework reflects the broader neglect of research and development institutions in the country, contributing to insecurity, poverty, unemployment and weak industrial capacity.

Established in 1972, ASCON is Nigeria’s foremost management development and executive training institution, with global partnerships and a mandate comparable to university-level academic and research institutions.