Lecturers under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Ibadan (UI) and the Emmanuel Alayande University of Education (EAUED), Oyo, on Tuesday staged peaceful rallies and awareness protests, warning President Bola Tinubu’s administration to sign the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement by August 28, 2025, or risk another nationwide strike.
The protests, which formed part of the nationwide demonstration declared by ASUU, were aimed at sensitizing the university community and Nigerians at large to the lingering challenges bedeviling the tertiary education sector. Members carried placards with inscriptions such as “ASUU demands all outstanding arrears,” “UTAS is what we need,” “Stop victimization of ASUU members,” and “Sign the agreement now to avert crisis.”
At the University of Ibadan, the protest was led by Dr. Adefemi Afolabi, Chairperson of the ASUU-UI branch, alongside the Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Kayode Martins. In Oyo town, Dr. Michael Bamidele Ojo, Chairperson of ASUU-EAUED, spearheaded the demonstration which included a press conference and a march to the Vice-Chancellor’s office, where lecturers chanted solidarity songs.
Speaking to journalists, Dr. Afolabi lamented that government’s failure to conclude negotiations spanning over 16 years had pushed lecturers to the wall, creating low morale in the system and worsening the brain drain. He said there has been inadequate progress in the negotiation between the federal government and ASUU, stressing that poor remuneration and conditions of service have discouraged the best brains from staying in the profession. He urged Nigerians, including opinion leaders, civil society, parents, and stakeholders, to prevail on the federal government to sign the re-negotiated agreement by August 28. According to him, only through this action can the Tinubu administration prevent an impending nationwide crisis across campuses and fulfil its promises.
At EAUED, Dr. Ojo said the protest was part of a broader national action to press for better welfare, adequate funding, and respect for agreements. He highlighted issues including unpaid 25–35 percent salary arrears, delayed promotion exercises, withheld earned academic allowances (EAA), and the non-release of cooperative and third-party deductions. He said ASUU can no longer allow the welfare of members to be subjected to the delay tactics of the Tinubu-led government. He urged both the federal and state governments to release more funds for revitalization, noting that UNESCO recommends 15–26 percent of national budgets for education, yet Nigeria allocates only about 7 percent, which he described as grossly inadequate. Instead of proliferating universities without funds, he argued, government should properly fund existing ones so they can meet global standards.
He also condemned the victimization of ASUU members in some institutions, citing cases at Kogi State University, Lagos State University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Responding, the Vice-Chancellor of EAUED, Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan, acknowledged the concerns raised, assuring that management was committed to staff welfare despite financial constraints. He said the university was on the same page with the union, explaining that salaries are generally low given the economy, but efforts are ongoing to defray outstanding debts. Promotion exercises, according to him, are in progress, though the cost of external assessments is high. He added that the state government is also considering an upward review of subventions to tertiary institutions.
Meanwhile, Oyo NLC Chairman, Kayode Martins, condemned what he described as government’s insensitivity to the plight of lecturers. He urged Tinubu to preserve those who lay the golden eggs by signing the agreement and beginning implementation without delay. He expressed dismay that professors are poorly remunerated while politicians agitate for higher pay. According to him, those who build the destinies of the youths should not be abandoned, stressing that education drives development and must be given priority attention.
ASUU branches nationwide have continued to mount pressure on government, insisting that only genuine reforms, including improved salaries, proper funding, and full autonomy for universities, can forestall another paralyzing strike in the sector.
