ASUU Benin Zone threatens to shut down public universities in Nigeria as lecturers accuse Federal Government of breaking 2025 agreement over allowances and salaries

Nigeria’s public university system may be heading toward another major crisis as the Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to suspend academic activities over what it described as the Federal Government’s continued failure to honour agreements reached with the union earlier in 2025.

The warning came during a press briefing in Benin City, where the zonal leadership accused the government of repeating old patterns that have historically triggered prolonged strikes and disruptions across campuses nationwide.

ASUU Says Government Has Failed to Keep Its Promise

Speaking on behalf of the union, Monday Igbafen said the government had not fully implemented key parts of the agreement designed to resolve long-standing disputes affecting university lecturers and the education sector.

According to him, ASUU entered negotiations in good faith with the expectation that the 2025 agreement would finally address lingering issues surrounding the controversial renegotiation of the 2009 agreement between the union and the Federal Government.

Instead, the union claims implementation has been partial, inconsistent, and unfair.

Dispute Over Academic Allowances Deepens

One of the biggest complaints from ASUU revolves around the payment structure for lecturers’ allowances.

The union argued that allowances such as the Consolidated Academic Tool Allowance, Earned Academic Allowance, and Professorial Allowance were paid outside the structure previously agreed upon by both parties.

ASUU insisted these payments were supposed to be fully integrated into the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure so that professors and other lecturers would receive them as part of their monthly salaries rather than as irregular or selective disbursements.

Union leaders believe the current arrangement creates inequality, confusion, and room for manipulation.

Monitoring Committee Yet to Be Established

Another major issue raised by the union is the Federal Government’s alleged refusal to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee.

ASUU said the committee was meant to oversee the execution of the agreement and eliminate the bureaucratic delays that have repeatedly stalled past agreements.

Without the committee in place, the union fears that government agencies may continue delaying action while unresolved matters pile up.

Education Policies Introduced Without Consultation

The union also accused the Federal Ministry of Education of sidelining ASUU in critical policy decisions affecting tertiary education.

ASUU criticised the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, for allegedly rolling out major reforms without adequate consultation with lecturers and university stakeholders.

Among the policies questioned by the union were the proposed National Research and Innovation Development Fund, changes to the mother-tongue education policy, and the introduction of transnational education partnerships, including plans linked to Coventry University operating within Nigeria.

The union argued that education reforms imposed without broad consultation could create long-term problems for universities already struggling with funding, infrastructure, and staff shortages.

ASUU Rejects NERD Initiative

Another flashpoint is the Nigeria Education Repository Databank, popularly known as NERD.

ASUU claimed lecturers were being pushed into participating in the initiative without proper stakeholder engagement or transparency regarding its purpose and implementation.

Suggested Readings (News continues below)

Defence Minister Christopher Musa Strengthens NLNG Security Operations Across Abuja as Nigeria Pushes Massive Gas Expansion Project

Oklahoma City Thunder defeat San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 in Oklahoma City as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominates Western Conference Finals matchup

Sparks viral debate as Jessica Simpson reveals first class flight seating arrangement and Nick Lachey recounts Hawaii encounter in Los Angeles United States airport drama

Montana man receives prison sentence as federal court convicts Kadin Lewis over Molotov cocktails case in Billings courtroom

The union fears that forcing compliance without dialogue undermines academic independence and institutional autonomy.

Concerns Over University Autonomy and Governance

ASUU further accused authorities of trying to arbitrarily scrap academic programmes labeled as “irrelevant” without involving universities in the decision-making process.

The union warned that such actions threaten academic freedom and the autonomy that universities require to function effectively.

There were also allegations of financial mismanagement, irregular appointments, and violations of due process by some vice chancellors appointed by government authorities.

These concerns reflect broader tensions that have existed for years between university unions and successive administrations over control, governance, and funding of tertiary institutions.

Lingering Financial Issues Still Unresolved

Beyond policy disputes, ASUU listed several financial matters that remain unsettled.

These include unpaid arrears linked to the 25–35 percent salary award, promotion arrears owed to lecturers, unremitted third-party deductions, and salary shortfalls allegedly caused by errors from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The union also revisited the controversial withholding of three-and-a-half months’ salaries connected to the 2022 ASUU strike, insisting that affected lecturers are still being unfairly punished years later.

Edo, Ondo and Delta Governments Also Criticised

The Benin Zone leadership extended its criticism beyond Abuja by accusing the governments of Edo State, Ondo State, and Delta State of failing to comply with implementation directives months after the Federal Government reportedly issued instructions.

ASUU warned that state-owned institutions in those states could also face industrial action if authorities fail to respond quickly.

Fresh Concerns Over FUT Minna Property Issues

The union additionally called on the Niger State government and the Federal Ministry of Education to stop all ongoing actions concerning land and property linked to the Federal University of Technology Minna.

ASUU did not provide extensive details but suggested that the matter could negatively affect the institution if not handled properly.

Impact and Consequences

If ASUU eventually proceeds with industrial action, the consequences could be severe for millions of students and their families across Nigeria.

Public universities have already endured repeated disruptions over the past decade, leading to delayed graduations, overcrowded academic calendars, and mounting frustration among students.

Another shutdown could further weaken confidence in Nigeria’s public education system and push more families toward private universities or overseas education options.

The economic impact may also be significant. Prolonged university closures often affect local businesses around campuses, reduce academic research productivity, and worsen youth unemployment as graduates face further delays entering the labour market.

There is also the risk of increasing brain drain, as frustrated academics continue seeking opportunities abroad in countries offering better pay, stable funding, and improved working conditions.

What’s Next?

The coming weeks may determine whether another nationwide university shutdown can be avoided.

ASUU is expected to continue consultations with its branches while monitoring the government’s response to its demands.

If negotiations fail or implementation delays continue, the union may begin mobilising members for industrial action.

The Federal Government, meanwhile, faces growing pressure from students, parents, education advocates, and civil society organisations to prevent another prolonged disruption in the university system.

Many observers believe urgent dialogue, transparency, and concrete implementation steps will be necessary to calm tensions before the situation escalates further.

Summary

The Benin Zone of ASUU has issued a strong warning over the Federal Government’s alleged failure to fully implement the 2025 agreement reached with the union.

The lecturers accused authorities of selective implementation of allowances, failure to establish oversight structures, and introducing education policies without proper consultation.

ASUU also raised concerns about unpaid salaries, university autonomy, governance issues, and unresolved financial obligations affecting lecturers nationwide.

With tensions rising once again, Nigeria’s already fragile public university system could face another major disruption if both sides fail to reach common ground quickly.

Bulleted Takeaways

• ASUU’s Benin Zone threatened industrial action over the non-implementation of the 2025 agreement.
• The union accused the government of selectively paying lecturers’ allowances.
• ASUU criticised the delay in setting up the Implementation Monitoring Committee.
• The union opposed several new education policies introduced without consultation.
• Unpaid salary arrears and withheld strike salaries remain unresolved.
• Edo, Ondo, and Delta state governments were also accused of non-compliance.
• ASUU warned that continued delays could paralyse public universities nationwide.
• Students may face another round of academic disruption if negotiations collapse.