The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, of making misleading statements about the federal government’s fulfilment of agreements with university workers, warning that the union may resume its suspended strike if pending issues remain unresolved within two weeks.
The Union’s University of Jos branch, in a statement signed by its Chairperson, Prof. Jurbe Joseph Molwus, said the government has failed to address key demands despite the four-week ultimatum issued on October 22.
According to the statement, the union lamented that university staff are yet to receive withheld salaries, wage award arrears, promotion arrears, and other entitlements.
“As we mobilise for our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 8–9, we expect that outstanding entitlements such as the 3.5 months withheld salaries, 25/35 per cent wage award arrears, promotion arrears, and unpaid salaries of some members would have been paid by now. But all we get are press releases from the Honourable Minister of Education. What we need are credit alerts, not misleading statements,” the statement read.
ASUU also expressed concern over the ₦50 billion revitalisation fund which, according to the union, has not reached any university despite government claims of release.
Reacting to the Minister’s recent statement that ₦2.3 billion had been disbursed to clear salary and promotion arrears, the union dismissed the claim as “false and embarrassing,” insisting the sum was grossly inadequate.
“The Minister’s claim of clearing the backlog exists only in his imagination. ₦2.3 billion cannot even address the needs of three universities. The Minister must state clearly what fraction of the outstanding entitlements this money is meant to cover and for whom,” ASUU said.
The statement further accused Dr. Alausa of making inconsistent and contradictory remarks about the union’s demands, urging him to engage sincerely with stakeholders rather than issue “empty rhetoric.”
“It is high time the Honourable Minister of Education realised that only genuine engagement beyond words can settle ASUU’s demands. Palliatives do not cure diseases; perhaps he should learn from his counterpart in the Ministry of Health,” it added.
The union also criticised the Minister of State for Education, accusing her of failing to demonstrate a proper understanding of issues affecting the university system despite her background in academia.
ASUU urged President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate genuine commitment to resolving the recurring crisis in tertiary education by appointing a minister who understands the sector’s challenges.
“If President Tinubu truly desires to make history by ending the long-standing dispute with university unions, he needs to appoint someone who understands the issues bedevilling higher education,” the statement said.
The union called on students, parents, and the public to prevail on the government to act swiftly, warning that the four-week ultimatum would expire on November 21, 2025.
“The strike was only suspended as a mark of respect and goodwill in collective bargaining. We expect the government to reciprocate by addressing our demands satisfactorily without further delay,” Prof. Molwus stated.
