The Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that it may embark on industrial action that could disrupt academic activities across Nigerian universities, citing the Federal Government’s alleged failure to fully implement agreements reached in 2025 and formally presented in January 2026.
Speaking during a press briefing in Benin, the Zonal Chairman, Prof. Monday Igbafen, said the union was disappointed that commitments made by the government—after years of negotiations aimed at reviewing the 2009 agreement—had not been properly fulfilled despite assurances of swift implementation.
He explained that while the government had begun implementing some aspects of the agreement, ASUU considered the process “selective and distorted,” particularly in relation to the payment of allowances such as the Consolidated Academic Tool Allowances (CATA), Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), and Professorial Allowances. According to him, the union insists that these payments were meant to be integrated into the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure as part of monthly remuneration for academic staff.
The Benin Zone also accused the Federal Government of failing to establish the implementation monitoring committee designed to protect the agreement from bureaucratic delays and interference.
Similarly, the Ibadan Zone of Academic Staff Union of Universities expressed concern over what it described as slow and incomplete execution of the 2025 agreement signed after nearly eight years of negotiations. The Zonal Coordinator, Prof. ‘Biodun Olaniran, said many provisions of the deal remain partially implemented or entirely ignored by both federal and state authorities.
The union warned that continued delay could provoke fresh industrial unrest, potentially destabilising the country’s public university system. It urged government at all levels to demonstrate stronger commitment to resolving longstanding challenges in the tertiary education sector.
ASUU also criticised aspects of the education policy direction under the Ministry of Education led by Dr Tunji Alausa, accusing officials of treating the agreement as a political issue rather than focusing on full implementation.
The union further called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the judiciary, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders to intervene urgently to prevent a breakdown of academic stability.
Among other concerns, ASUU rejected the proposed Nigeria Education Repository Databank (NERD), arguing that it raises unresolved issues around intellectual property rights and data protection under existing Nigerian laws.
It also raised concerns over what it described as increasing political interference in university governance, particularly in the appointment of vice-chancellors and restrictions on staff recruitment, which it said undermine the principle of university autonomy.
