The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sounded an alarm over what it calls a plot to undermine Nigeria’s public university system. Speaking at ASUU’s 2024 Heroes Day event in Abuja, ASUU National President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke alleged that both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are actively working to destabilize public education in Nigeria.
Prof. Osodeke also highlighted frustrations with the delayed renegotiation of ASUU’s 2009 agreement with the Federal Government, which remains unresolved despite multiple Memoranda of Understanding and Action. He noted that the ongoing enforcement of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) has compounded these issues, even as the Federal Executive Council had previously announced plans to remove IPPIS from tertiary institutions.
Osodeke expressed disappointment over the government’s continued withholding of ASUU members’ three and a half months’ salary, as well as other overdue wages, promotions, and the Earned Academic Allowance. He commended ASUU members for their resilience, describing them as “courageous comrades” committed to preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s public universities.
In support of its members’ academic growth, ASUU announced PhD grants of N500,000 each, which will be awarded based on rigorous assessment. This initiative aims to support members’ research across Nigeria’s public universities.
Reflecting on the union’s continued challenges, Osodeke reiterated ASUU’s commitment to the welfare of members at Kogi State University, Lagos State University, Ebonyi State University, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, who have reportedly faced punitive measures for their solidarity in ASUU’s cause.
As part of the Heroes Day event, ASUU honored several distinguished members, including Prof. T. Uzodinma Nwala, Prof. Bright Ekuerhare, Prof. Oye Oyediran, and Mallam Bashir Kurfi, in recognition of their contributions to Nigerian academia and the fight for public education.
