The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has strongly refuted the Federal Government's claim that a lack of funds prevents it from meeting the full salary demands of university staff. This rebuttal comes as a parallel academic union, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), commended the government for a separate financial action, creating a stark contrast in reactions from the academic sector.
ASUU Challenges Federal Government's Financial Narrative
Speaking through its Bauchi Zone Coordinator, Professor Timothy Namu, during a press briefing in Jos, ASUU presented concrete data to counter the government's position. Professor Namu revealed that according to Federal Accounts Allocation Committee figures, state governments received N3.92 trillion in 2022, which surged to N5.81 trillion in 2024, marking an increase of over 62 percent.
He further highlighted that the Federal Government's own allocation jumped from N3.42 trillion in 2022 to N4.65 trillion in 2024, representing a massive increase of more than 70 percent. "These statistics confirm that it is not the lack of funds but the lack of political will and misplacement of priorities that make education suffer in Nigeria," Professor Namu asserted.
CONUA's Mixed Response to Government Actions
In a contrasting development, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) expressed appreciation for the Federal Government's release of third-party deductions owed to its members. The union's President, Niyi Sunmonu, described this move in a recent statement as a positive step towards resolving long-standing issues and rebuilding confidence in the relationship between the government and academic unions.
However, CONUA's commendation came with significant reservations. Sunmonu urged the government to expedite action on other unresolved matters critical for maintaining industrial peace. He also condemned the continued withholding of salaries for periods during which his members did not participate in any strike action, stating this violates Section 43(1b) of the Trade Disputes Act.
Dire Warnings About Nigeria's University System
Both unions, despite their differing immediate reactions, painted a grim picture of the state of higher education in Nigeria. CONUA President Niyi Sunmonu described the situation as "sobering," with the system under severe strain from a crippling brain drain.
Severe brain drain is depleting universities of skilled academics at an alarming rate, Sunmonu reported. He highlighted that most institutions have become top-heavy with far too few young academics entering the profession due to poor remuneration and unattractive working conditions.
The key issues threatening academic continuity include:
- Alarming rate of skilled academics leaving the country
- Critically low recruitment of young academics into the profession
- Widening mentorship gaps threatening research culture
- Uncompetitive salaries failing to reflect socio-economic realities
Sunmonu stressed that reversing this decline requires a comprehensive review of academic remuneration, making it competitive at both regional and global levels to salvage Nigeria's university system from collapse.
