The Academic Staff Union of Universities (Academic Staff Union of Universities) has accused the Federal Government of worsening the crisis in Nigeria’s tertiary education system through the continued withholding of lecturers’ salaries under the “no work, no pay” policy.
The allegation was made by the ASUU Abuja Zonal Coordinator, Adam Al-Amin Abdullahi, during a press briefing in Abuja, where he criticised what he described as the government’s failure to fully implement agreements reached with the union in December 2025.
According to him, several key welfare issues remain unresolved five months after the agreement, including withheld salaries, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls linked to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, unremitted deductions, and outstanding wage award payments.
Abdullahi said the continued salary withholding was demeaning to academics and reduced university lecturers to what he described as casual workers, warning that such treatment could further destabilise the university system.
He stressed that no nation can achieve meaningful development while neglecting the welfare of its academic workforce, adding that poor treatment of lecturers undermines teaching quality, research output, and national progress.
The ASUU leader also accused some university administrators and governing councils of contributing to irregularities within the system, including alleged unlawful appointments and disregard for due process.
He specifically raised concerns over controversial academic titles such as “Professor of Practice” and “Diaspora Professor,” which he said were sometimes introduced without proper approval from university senates and governing councils.
According to him, such practices create loopholes that could allow unqualified individuals to occupy sensitive academic positions, thereby weakening standards in Nigeria’s universities.
ASUU called on the Federal Government to urgently address all outstanding welfare concerns to prevent further disruptions in the academic calendar and restore stability to the university system.
