The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure Zone, has accused the Federal Government of misrepresenting the progress of its negotiations with the union, while describing newly established universities as “centres of crisis.” speaking during a press briefing at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Thursday, the ASUU Akure Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, said the Federal Government had violated its own seven-year moratorium on establishing new universities by announcing additional institutions.
PUNCH earlier reported that the government had approved a seven-year freeze on setting up new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education due to concerns about the proliferation of under-utilised institutions, stretched resources, and falling academic standards. The moratorium was approved at a Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, following a presentation by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu Alausa. Despite this, nine new universities — including one in Epe — recently received approval.
Egbedokun, joined by ASUU chairmen from the seven branches under the Akure Zone, noted that existing universities remained poorly funded, yet the Federal Government continued to approve new institutions even after announcing a freeze. He said, “Some months ago, the government announced a seven-year moratorium on establishing new tertiary institutions. One of our long-standing demands is the need to halt the proliferation of universities and instead strengthen existing ones. It was agreed that no licenses would be issued for seven years, but just days ago, a new university was approved. The government should keep its word. Is seven years the same as seven days?”
Reviewing the renegotiation process since ASUU suspended its warning strike, Egbedokun stated that the union’s National Executive Council rejected the Federal Government’s proposed salary adjustment, describing it as inadequate and dismissive. He argued that such an offer would neither stem the growing exodus of academics nor restore respect to the profession.
He said the union rejected the proposed 35% increase on current academic salaries, insisting that critical issues around wages and conditions of service remained unresolved. He condemned what he called the “manipulative tactics” of certain government officials, who he said were distorting facts about the negotiations.
He added that the partial payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2017 and the delayed release of third-party deductions owed to members should not be presented as meaningful achievements. With barely a month left in the timeline ASUU gave the Federal Government to act, Egbedokun urged officials to “show clarity, commitment, and integrity” in resolving the lingering issues.
“Only a fair and decent living wage for Nigerian academics is acceptable. The most effective way to secure Nigeria’s future is to invest meaningfully in education,” he said. He reiterated ASUU’s key demands, which include completing the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FG Agreement, payment of outstanding 25/35% salary arrears, settlement of promotion arrears, release of unremitted third-party deductions, and improved funding of public universities. He warned that failure to act could lead to renewed industrial action across campuses.
ASUU leaders present at the briefing included Prof. Anthony Odiwe (OAU), Prof. Bamidele Mogaji (FUTA), Prof. Sola Afolayan (EKSU), Dr. Abraham Oladebeye (UNIMED), Dr. Abayomi Fagbuagun (FUOYE), Dr. Babatope Ogundare (BOUESTI), and Dr. Bosun Ajisafe (Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo).
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education clarified on Sunday that presidential approval for the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, Lagos State, was granted before the moratorium was adopted. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu approved the universities in Epe, Kachia, and Ogoniland through a Presidential Executive Memo issued prior to the FEC decision.
Source: https://punchng.com/
