Once again, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is sounding the alarm — and rightly so.
The union, led by Prof. Chris Piwuna, has issued a firm warning to the Federal Government: fulfill your promises, or we walk. To many Nigerians, this sounds all too familiar. Yet, it’s not just a routine threat; it’s a desperate call for justice in a system that continues to fail those who keep our higher education system running.
According to ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC), salaries for lecturers are still being delayed — a recurring issue that has plagued the system for years. The union’s position is clear: if salaries are not paid by the third day of the following month, local branches should “take appropriate action.” Everyone knows what that means — a strike.
But here’s the hard truth: Nigeria cannot afford another ASUU strike. The last few years have seen our public universities crippled by prolonged industrial actions, with students bearing the brunt of disrupted academic calendars, lost time, and emotional stress. For many, it’s a cycle of hope and frustration. Lecturers demand their rights. Government makes promises. Nothing changes. And then, another strike.
This isn’t just a union versus government issue. It’s about the future of millions of Nigerian students, many of whom already study under substandard conditions. The question isn’t whether ASUU is right to demand timely salary payments — they absolutely are. The real question is: why does it take the threat of a strike for the government to act?
The culture of neglect and broken agreements must end. Lecturers are not volunteers — they are professionals who deserve respect, fair compensation, and stability. When they are forced to work without pay or are subjected to erratic financial policies, it sends a dangerous message: that education doesn’t matter.
The government must not only pay salaries on time but also honor the agreements it willingly entered into with ASUU. It’s a matter of integrity, governance, and national development. To delay is to jeopardize the future of the nation.
Let’s not wait for the strike to happen. Let this be the moment when action replaces rhetoric — when promises become policy, and when the education of Nigerian students is finally treated as a national priority. Because at the end of the day, when ASUU stops teaching, Nigeria stops learning.
