The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to initiate steps toward the unionisation of private universities across the country.
Ajaero made the call on Sunday during The Toyin Falola Interview Series titled “A Conversation with the President of ASUU, Professor Christopher Piwuna.”
The NLC president said private universities were originally created to weaken ASUU’s influence within Nigeria’s tertiary education system, stressing that the time had come for their academic staff to enjoy the protection and representation of organised labour.
He said, “The incessant harassment of ASUU and its members must stop. Government must stop signing agreements it does not intend to implement. Since 2009, ASUU has been calling for proper funding of universities, yet the government keeps reneging.”
Ajaero also recalled that ASUU’s establishment was initially resisted by government authorities, who argued that the union should not be affiliated with the NLC because it was a senior staff association. He added that the NLC challenged that decision in court and eventually won.
According to him, efforts must now focus on integrating private universities into the labour structure to strengthen the collective bargaining power of academic unions and ensure uniform standards across all tertiary institutions.
He also called for stronger synergy among university-based unions to harmonise their demands and present a united front in engagements with government.
In his remarks, ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said academic freedom and quality education could only be achieved when university staff have access to adequate facilities and fair working conditions.
He dismissed claims that ASUU members were selfish, noting that they had continued to endure intimidation and neglect while advocating for the improvement of Nigeria’s university system.
Also speaking, Prof. Francis Egbokhare identified what he termed an “ideological problem” between ASUU and the government. He explained that while ASUU’s demands were geared toward improving welfare and enhancing research and teaching, government often viewed union activities through a political lens.
Egbokhare stressed the need for ideological alignment between the two sides to prevent further disruptions to academic activities and to ensure that students do not continue to suffer the consequences of policy failures.
Private universities in Nigeria have so far been insulated from recurring ASUU strikes due to the absence of formal academic staff unions within their systems.
