The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government of insincerity in its approach to collective bargaining and neglect of the nation’s tertiary education system, particularly in the welfare and working conditions of lecturers in public universities.
Chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi, made this known on Thursday while speaking on Situation Room, a radio programme aired in Ibadan.
ASUU, which on Monday began a two-week warning strike, said it was protesting the Federal Government’s failure to sign the renegotiated draft agreement prepared by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee more than eight months ago.
Afolabi accused the government of taking the union’s patience for granted despite its consistent commitment to dialogue.
“We waited for eight months and even organised peaceful protests to sensitise Nigerians on the need for government to sign the renegotiated agreement. But rather than honour that effort, government came back to us with another committee to start the entire engagement afresh,” he lamented.
He described the move as “a waste of time and resources,” adding that the government appeared “more interested in buying time than resolving issues affecting lecturers’ welfare and working conditions.”
The union leader warned that the persistent neglect of the education sector was fueling a mass exodus of academic staff and a loss of interest among top-performing graduates in pursuing academic careers.
“Professors are voluntarily resigning and relocating abroad, while first-class graduates are no longer interested in lecturing. These developments are alarming and must be addressed urgently,” Afolabi cautioned.
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He further decried the deteriorating living conditions of lecturers amid the nation’s rising inflation, stating that many could barely meet basic needs.
“Inflation keeps rising, transportation costs are unbearable, and many lecturers can barely feed their families. Some can no longer afford to come to the office, and those who do can hardly concentrate,” he said.
Afolabi urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the crisis and demonstrate genuine commitment to salvaging the public university system, warning that continued neglect could lead to its total collapse.
ASUU, he reiterated, remains committed to securing improved welfare for its members and ensuring adequate funding for the revitalisation of Nigeria’s public universities in the interest of children from ordinary Nigerian families.