The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has criticised the Federal Government’s newly introduced loan scheme for tertiary institution workers, labelling it a diversion from the real and urgent issues confronting academic staff nationwide. The union’s president, Professor Christopher Piwuna, made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Nigerian Tribune on Thursday, calling instead for a comprehensive review of staff remuneration to reflect the harsh economic climate in Nigeria.
Piwuna noted that while the newly announced Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF) might be well-intentioned, it falls far short of addressing the core demands of ASUU members—particularly the need for a significant salary adjustment in line with skyrocketing inflation and the soaring cost of living.
“The Federal Government is offering loans when what we are asking for is decent pay. This is a distraction. We are in a depressed economy, and workers are already overburdened. Adding loans to their plate is not relief—it’s additional pressure,” he said.
According to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the loan scheme is designed to support the welfare and professional development of tertiary institution workers, with eligible staff able to access up to ₦10 million, capped at 33.3% of their gross annual salary. But Piwuna pointed out that such financial support systems are not new—many universities already operate internal loan schemes among staff—and questioned the sustainability and efficiency of a government-led version.
More pressing, according to the ASUU president, is the urgent need to revisit salary structures, which he says no longer reflect the realities of today’s economic environment. He urged the government to prioritise wage reform over financial handouts, which, in his view, only provide short-term palliatives.
In addition to rejecting the loan proposal as a viable solution, Piwuna renewed the union’s call for the Federal Government to clear the three-and-a-half months’ worth of withheld salaries dating back to the 2022 industrial action. He emphasised that the unpaid earnings were not a favour or a bailout but compensation for work already rendered by members.
“We appreciate that President Bola Tinubu’s government has released a portion of the withheld salaries,” he said. “But the remainder must be paid. These are legitimate earnings, and the longer they remain unpaid, the more it reflects poorly on how the nation values its academic workforce.”
While ASUU acknowledged some efforts by the current administration, the union insisted that real change would only come through meaningful dialogue and a genuine commitment to addressing structural issues in the education sector.
The message from ASUU is clear: loans are not the solution. What Nigeria’s lecturers want—and need—is fair pay, not debt.