The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Saturday issued a fresh warning to the Federal Government, saying it must urgently address unresolved labour issues to avert another nationwide strike in public universities.

In a statement signed by its National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, the union accused the government of pushing it “to the wall,” despite public assurances by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, that strikes in the tertiary education sector were a thing of the past.

Piwuna said while ASUU welcomed the minister’s emphasis on dialogue, government action had not matched its rhetoric.

“Feelers across campuses indicate that lecturers in Nigerian public universities are, to put it mildly, not happy. They teach students on empty stomachs… Our members feel forgotten, shamed, and demoralised by past and present governments,” the statement read in part.

ASUU lamented the poor teaching and research conditions in public universities, citing inadequate funding for libraries, laboratories, and essential materials. The union also accused successive administrations of disregarding collective bargaining agreements, particularly the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which has been due for renegotiation since 2012.

The union criticised the government for delaying action on a draft agreement submitted in December 2024 by the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed committee and for selectively implementing provisions on conditions of service, funding, and university autonomy.

ASUU also faulted the government’s “Diaspora Bridge” initiative aimed at attracting Nigerian academics abroad as volunteers, calling it hypocritical given the poor treatment of lecturers at home.

The statement further raised concerns about alleged political interference in the appointment of Vice Chancellors, including the attempted reinstatement of the Acting Vice Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education despite alleged irregularities in her academic promotions.

“For the umpteenth time, ASUU invites all genuine patriots to prevail on Nigeria’s Federal and State Governments to address all lingering labour issues in the Nigerian University System to avert another looming industrial crisis,” Piwuna said.