The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has called on the Federal Government to urgently release withheld salaries and implement outstanding aspects of the December 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.

ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, made the demand on Friday while briefing journalists at the ASUU Secretariat, University of Jos, Plateau State.

Piwuna said the government must address all outstanding issues of academic staff welfare and matters arising from the 2025 agreement.

He noted that resolving the issues was critical to restoring confidence among lecturers and creating the conditions for effective teaching, research and learning in Nigeria’s public universities.

“The implementation of outstanding aspects of the December 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement would go a long way towards restoring industrial harmony and enabling university lecturers to focus on teaching, research and community service,” he said.

Piwuna also raised concerns about Nigeria’s socio-economic situation and urged a shift in government policies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said political parties and candidates must prioritize welfare, job creation, poverty reduction, education and economic development, instead of policies that only offer temporary relief.

The ASUU president criticized what he described as IMF and World Bank-dictated “poverty alleviation” policies, saying Nigeria needs more participatory and inclusive programmes tailored to its realities.

He urged federal and state governments to prioritize agriculture, industrial production, social protection and other job-creating sectors.

Piwuna further called for the suspension of “unnecessary borrowing” and for government to explore sustainable alternative sources of financing development projects that directly impact Nigerians.

SOURCE: CHANNELS NEWS.