By Sunday Ameh
The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, has called on the Federal and state governments to take responsibility for resolving the lingering crisis in Nigeria’s public university system.
Piwuna made the call while speaking during an interview on Wednesday.
His remarks came days after ASUU warned that it could reactivate its suspended nationwide strike over the incomplete implementation of the December 2025 agreement, outstanding salary arrears and other welfare concerns affecting university lecturers.
According to Piwuna, the agreement signed in December 2025 was expected to move the university system away from recurring disputes and focus attention on stability, research and the quality of education.
He said the agreement contained provisions for improved funding of public universities, salary adjustments and research support, among other measures, but alleged that implementation had remained inconsistent.
Piwuna explained that responsibility for funding and administration differs between federal and state-owned universities, making the involvement of both levels of government necessary.
He cited Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, as an example of a state governor who, according to him, had implemented the agreement, while alleging that other state governments had yet to fulfil their obligations.
The ASUU president also said the Federal Government had outstanding responsibilities under the agreement, noting that the union had engaged the Minister of Education and the committee overseeing its implementation.
Piwuna further raised concerns over salary arrears, including three-and-a-half months of pay which ASUU says remain outstanding from the seven-and-a-half months withheld during the previous administration.
He said some universities were also experiencing delays in salary payments and that some lecturers had yet to be placed on the new salary structure.
The union leader called on both federal and state governments to honour their commitments, stressing that ASUU remained open to dialogue but expected negotiated agreements to be implemented.
Piwuna also advocated increased investment in education, saying adequate funding was essential for research, quality teaching and the development of Nigerian universities.
He urged governments to prioritise education and gradually work towards improved funding for the sector.
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