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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Nigerian government of failing to properly implement the renegotiated agreement on Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), warning that the union may resume industrial action.
ASUU President Chris Piwuna, in an interview with CableNews on Thursday, said lecturers were frustrated over delays in the payment of allowances, which he said had remained unpaid for 18 months.
The union said the agreement reached with the Nigerian government in January was meant to address longstanding disputes and prevent recurring strikes in public universities.
Piwuna, however, alleged that implementation of the agreement has been inconsistent, particularly regarding the mainstreaming of Earned Academic Allowances into lecturers’ salaries.
According to him, lecturers across various university branches are dissatisfied with what he described as the poor handling of the agreement by the Ministry of Education.
“Our members across the branches feel the pinch, so their responses are expected,” he said.
“The federal ministry of education has gone to sleep. We intend to wake them up. When the drums start beating, be sure of what will follow.”
He warned that the union could take further action if the issues remain unresolved, saying ASUU was prepared to compel the government to honour its commitments.
The ASUU president also criticised the delay in approving promotion arrears and other components of the agreement, alleging that some vice-chancellors had been left struggling to meet obligations the government agreed to fund.
Piwuna said the union had agreed that the allowances would become part of monthly salaries to prevent future arrears, but claimed that implementation has yet to begin despite assurances from government officials.
“Our promotion arrears have been waiting for the approval of the minister of finance. Now they say the new minister has to settle down. We are tired of your tactics. We are fed up,” the ASUU president said.
“We are literally back to the Ngige era of never-ending EAA renegotiation,” he said.
“The truth is that we have not received it (EAA) for 18 months.
“It was mainstreamed in the 2025 budget. They did not implement it. This current minister said it would start in January this year. Nothing.”
He added that lecturers are becoming impatient with what he described as repeated delays and unfulfilled promises.
