ASUU Urges FG to Boost University Funding, Warns Poor Investment Fuels Strikes

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again called on the Federal Government to prioritise and increase funding for Nigeria’s public universities, warning that sustainable investment in education remains the only way to end recurring strikes and improve the global ranking of Nigerian institutions.

ASUU made this known when it appeared before the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund at the National Assembly on Friday, where the union outlined longstanding grievances and renewed its appeal for meaningful engagement.

Speaking on behalf of the union, ASUU National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, explained that the current two-week warning strike stemmed from issues that have lingered since 2011, despite multiple rounds of negotiations and committees set up to resolve them.

“We engaged the Federal Government for eight years without any tangible result,” Professor Piwuna lamented.
“The Yayale Ahmed Committee report, submitted in December 2024, was ignored until this industrial action began.”

According to him, the union’s demands have remained consistent over the years — adequate funding of public universities, revitalisation of infrastructure, improved welfare for academic staff, and respect for institutional autonomy.

He stressed that without substantial investment in tertiary education, Nigeria’s universities would continue to struggle to compete globally and would remain vulnerable to crises and strikes.

“Try us,” Piwuna told the senators. “Push government to fund universities adequately and you’ll see the end of strikes and the improvement of our universities in global rankings.”

The ASUU president further revealed that while the National Assembly approved ₦150 billion for the revitalisation of public universities, only ₦50 billion has so far been released. Even that amount, he said, remains stuck at the Ministry of Education, where there are plans to share it among universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, despite each category having separate budgetary allocations.

Piwuna cautioned that such diversionary practices defeat the purpose of the allocation and risk deepening the crisis in the education sector.

“The ₦150 billion was approved specifically for universities,” he emphasised. “It must be used for that purpose — not lumped together with funds for other institutions.”

He also appealed to the Senate committee to hold the executive accountable and ensure that education funding aligns with Nigeria’s development priorities.

Observers note that the latest warning strike, though brief, underscores ASUU’s growing frustration over unfulfilled agreements and persistent underfunding. Many fear that if the government fails to act swiftly, the warning strike could escalate into a full-blown industrial action — once again disrupting academic calendars across the country.