The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday staged protests across campuses nationwide, demanding the implementation of long-standing agreements with the Federal Government, two days before a scheduled meeting in Abuja.
Lecturers marched at universities in Ile-Ife, Ilorin, Lafia, Calabar, Sokoto, Akure, Plateau, Maiduguri, Umuahia, and Osogbo, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs. They called for the release of three and a half months withheld salaries, payment of arrears and promotions, revitalisation of universities, and adoption of UTAS over IPPIS, while rejecting the proposed government loan scheme.
At Obafemi Awolowo University, ASUU chair, Prof. Tony Odiwe, said lecturers had been on the same salary scale since 2009 and warned that government would be blamed if peace on campuses collapsed. In Ekiti, zonal coordinator, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, said academics were teaching “on empty stomachs,” while at Lafia, Sunday Orinya accused government of deceit and neglect.
Protests also drew national leaders, with ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, joining members at Plateau State University. In Sokoto, branch chair, Prof. Nurudeen Almustapha, described the loan scheme as a “poisoned chalice.” At Ilorin, lecturers carried placards reading “University workers are not slaves” and “Honour your agreement with ASUU.”
Across campuses, the union warned that unless Thursday’s meeting yields results, the fragile calm in universities could collapse into another nationwide strike.