The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government of deceiving Nigerians with claims that ₦2.3 billion has been released to clear salary and promotion arrears owed to university workers, saying no such funds have reached any institution.
In a strongly worded statement signed by Jurbe Joseph Molwus, chairperson of the University of Jos branch, the union described the government’s announcement as “misleading” and “a deliberate attempt to downplay the realities faced by university lecturers.”
Molwus recalled that ASUU had issued a four-week ultimatum on October 22, 2025, demanding the payment of outstanding entitlements or risk another nationwide strike. Two weeks into the ultimatum, he said, there has been “no meaningful progress” from the government.
“As ASUU mobilises for its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 8 and 9, we expect that some of the outstanding entitlements such as 3.5 months withheld salaries, 25/35% wage award arrears, promotion arrears, and unpaid salaries of some members would have been paid by now,” Molwus said. “But all we get are press releases by the Honourable Minister of Education. What we need is credit alerts, not misleading statements.”
The union also faulted Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for claiming that ₦2.3 billion had been released to clear arrears in all federal universities, describing the figure as “grossly inadequate and almost insulting.”
“Can ₦2.3 billion clear the backlog of salary and promotion arrears of all federal university workers? Absolutely not. That amount can hardly take care of three major universities in Nigeria. It is like a drop in the ocean — embarrassing, if not insulting,” Molwus stated.
He further alleged that the ₦50 billion revitalisation fund the government claimed to have released weeks ago had also not reached the universities. “We do not know why the Minister of Education is still keeping it,” he added.
Expressing frustration over what he called the government’s “habitual insincerity,” the ASUU chairperson insisted that only genuine engagement — not “media propaganda” — would resolve the lingering disputes between the union and the Federal Government.
Molwus also questioned the competence of the Minister of Education, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint a more capable individual who understands the complexities of Nigeria’s university system.
“If the President truly wants to make history by ending the long-standing crisis in the university sector, he must bring in someone who genuinely understands the problems,” he said. “Otherwise, ASUU should not be blamed if it resumes its suspended strike after November 21.”
Reaffirming the union’s commitment to dialogue, Molwus noted that ASUU suspended its previous strike out of goodwill and respect for the collective bargaining process. “Our members are losing patience as they await the payment of their legitimate entitlements and a signed agreement with the government,” he warned.
With growing discontent among university staff and the government’s perceived lack of sincerity, fears are mounting that the country may once again face a major disruption in its higher education system if the issues remain unresolved.