ASUU Fury Erupts: Campuses Brace for Strike as Tinubu Intervenes
Nigerian university lecturers under ASUU staged nationwide protests, threatening another strike if the Federal Government fails to address demands like the 2009 agreement, unpaid salaries, and revitalisation funds by August 28. Education Minister Dr. Olatunji Alausa, acting on President Tinubu's directive, countered ASUU's claims, stating past agreements were non-binding drafts, and announced an internal review and technical committee to forge a sustainable counter-offer, aiming to keep universities open permanently.
University lecturers across Nigeria, under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), staged nationwide peaceful protests on Tuesday, issuing a stern warning that public universities could face another total shutdown. Their actions were prompted by the Federal Government's alleged failure to meet long-standing demands, which include the conclusion of the 2009 agreement renegotiation, the disbursement of revitalisation funds, the payment of withheld salaries, and the remittance of unremitted deductions. The union has set an August 28 deadline for the government to act, threatening industrial action if their grievances are not addressed.
Protests were observed in various universities, demonstrating a unified front from ASUU members. At the University of Lagos (UNILAG), members marched with placards, accusing the government of deliberate neglect. Professor Idou Keinde, the branch chairman, emphasized that the government's refusal to engage was pushing the union towards another strike. Similarly, at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi, Dr. Angulu Haruna, branch chairperson, expressed lecturers' weariness with