The University of Abuja chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that Nigeria’s higher education system is on the brink of collapse unless the Federal Government urgently addresses long-standing welfare and funding concerns.
During a peaceful protest on campus on Tuesday, lecturers carried placards reading “What is good for the politicians is good for the people” and “Lecturers are not beggars.” They accused the government of failing to honour the 2009 agreement, which mandated periodic salary reviews and improved working conditions.
Chapter Chairman, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, said the last salary adjustment was 16 years ago, with the renegotiation process dragging on since 2017 despite the submission of a final report in February 2025. He lamented that members were dying from stress-related causes as they struggled with rising living costs.
“We don’t need loans,” Ugoh said. “Pay us our withheld salaries, arrears, and wage awards. Only then can we talk about other options.”
He also urged the government to uphold university autonomy and revitalise the sector, warning that no nation could grow beyond the quality of its education system.
