The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi zone, has dismissed the Federal Government’s claim that a paucity of funds is responsible for its inability to meet the full salary demands of university lecturers. According to the union, Nigeria’s problem is not a shortage of resources but poor political will and misplaced priorities, particularly regarding education funding.
Speaking to journalists in Jos, the Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Timothy Namu, argued that available financial data contradicts the government’s narrative. He noted that allocations to both federal and state governments have significantly increased over the years.
Citing figures from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), Namu explained that states received ₦3.92 trillion in 2022 and ₦5.81 trillion in 2024, representing a rise of more than 62%. In the same period, Federal Government allocations increased from ₦3.42 trillion to ₦4.65 trillion, a growth of over 70%.
“These statistics clearly show that the issue is not lack of funds,” Namu said. “It is a lack of political commitment and priority for education that continues to undermine Nigeria’s university system.”
He lamented that government actions so far provide no indication that education is a national priority or that authorities are genuinely committed to preventing recurring crises in public universities.
Namu recalled that during ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Taraba State University, Jalingo, from November 8 to 9, 2025, the union assessed the government’s response since the suspension of its warning strike and rejected the proposed salary increment.
According to him, NEC described the salary offer as “a drop in the ocean”, far below what is required to curb the ongoing brain drain affecting Nigerian universities.
He noted that NEC convened an emergency meeting a week into the warning strike to evaluate the progress of negotiations. While the union agreed that some objectives had been partially achieved, the strike was suspended in good faith. However, with only a week left before the expiration of the four-week window given to government, “nothing substantial has been achieved.”
ASUU called on traditional rulers, opinion leaders, students, civil society groups, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the National Assembly to mount pressure on the government to fulfil its obligations and avert further disruptions in the university system.
