The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed deep concern over deteriorating education standards in Nigeria, attributing the crisis to inadequate welfare conditions for lecturers and teachers across the nation.
In a New Year message delivered in Ibadan on Wednesday, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, Chairman of ASUU’s University of Ibadan Chapter, decried the poor remuneration for public university lecturers and teachers, which he said discourages qualified individuals from pursuing careers in education. “Teachers are not well-paid, leading to the reluctance of qualified professionals to accept teaching jobs in public primary and secondary schools,” Akinwole stated. “This opens the door for untrained and unqualified individuals to dominate the sector, resulting in the proliferation of private schools that are unaffordable for the average Nigerian.”
A Stagnant Education Sector
Prof. Akinwole lamented the stagnation of Nigeria’s university system in 2024, attributing the lack of industrial action to the sacrifices made by lecturers despite the government’s perceived indifference. He criticized the 2025 national budget, noting that the allocation of 7% (₦3.52 trillion) for education falls significantly short of the UNESCO-recommended 15-20% for underdeveloped countries. “This budget allocation ensures the sector remains stagnant, leaving public universities and other institutions struggling for survival,” he added.
Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government Agreement
While commending the federal government for initiating a committee to renegotiate the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, Akinwole warned against repeating past mistakes. “Since 2017, various committees have been formed, but none have led to meaningful outcomes,” he remarked. “Instead of starting fresh negotiations, the Tinubu administration should finalize and sign the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated agreement from 2021. This would demonstrate genuine goodwill and restore hope in Nigeria’s public universities.”
TETFUND Under Threat
Akinwole also criticized President Bola Tinubu’s proposal to eliminate the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) under the new tax administration bill, describing it as a move to “commodify education.” He explained that the bill proposes replacing the education tax with a development levy, which would phase out TETFUND’s revenue by 2030. “This misbegotten policy threatens to destroy the main source of infrastructural funding for public tertiary institutions,” he said. “By 2030, the levy will solely fund the federal government’s student loan scheme, leaving universities without critical support for infrastructure.”
Call for Action in 2025
Setting the agenda for 2025, Prof. Akinwole urged President Tinubu to prioritize the welfare of education workers, emphasizing the worsening economic conditions and high cost of living. He demanded the immediate release of withheld salaries, Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), and funds for revitalizing universities, as stipulated in the 2012, 2013, and 2017 agreements.
“In the absence of visible and concrete efforts to address these issues, another prolonged confrontation between ASUU and the federal government seems inevitable,” Akinwole warned, stressing the need for urgent action to avoid a crisis that could further destabilize Nigeria’s education system.
