ASUU Slams FG for Defying University Freeze, Rejects 35% Salary Offer

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure Zone, has accused the Federal Government of misrepresenting ongoing negotiations with the union and disregarding its own policy on establishing new universities. The union described recently approved institutions as “crisis centres,” warning that the proliferation of poorly funded universities undermines Nigeria’s higher education system.

Speaking at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Thursday, ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, criticised the government for approving new universities despite announcing a seven-year freeze on the creation of additional federal tertiary institutions. The moratorium—approved by the Federal Executive Council after a presentation by Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu Alausa—was intended to curb the strain on resources and declining academic standards.

However, nine new universities, including the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, were recently approved. Egbedokun, joined by ASUU branch leaders across the Akure Zone, questioned the Federal Government’s commitment to its own policy, saying:
“A few months ago, the government announced a seven-year moratorium on establishing new institutions. Yet, just days ago, a new university was approved. How does seven years become seven days? The government must live up to its word.”

On the state of negotiations, Egbedokun said ASUU’s National Executive Council rejected the Federal Government’s proposed salary increase, calling it “tokenistic and insulting.” He said the 35% raise fails to address the real issues driving the exit of experienced academics and the deterioration of the profession.

While acknowledging minor progress in non-monetary areas, he stressed that key issues—improved salaries, better working conditions, payment of arrears, and proper university funding—remain unresolved. He further accused some government officials of distorting the facts around negotiations, insisting that paying backlogged promotion arrears from 2017 and remitting long-overdue third-party deductions should not be portrayed as meaningful achievements.

With less than a month left in ASUU’s deadline for the government to act, Egbedokun urged authorities to show “clarity, commitment, and integrity,” warning that failure to meet the union’s demands could result in renewed industrial action across campuses.

He reiterated ASUU’s demands, including the conclusion of the 2009 agreement renegotiation, settlement of outstanding salary arrears, release of withheld deductions, payment of promotion arrears, and sustainable funding for public universities.

ASUU leaders 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 clarified that the approval of the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe—as well as universities in Kachia and Ogoniland—was granted by President Bola Tinubu through an Executive Memo before FEC instituted the moratorium.