Nigerian University Union Criticises FG for Approving New Universities While Existing Ones Struggle

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has criticised the Federal Government for approving new universities despite a seven-year moratorium on establishing additional tertiary institutions and the severe underfunding of existing campuses.

Speaking at Obafemi Awolowo University, ASUU Akure Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, said the new approvals contradict the government’s own policy and risk turning the institutions into “crises centres.”

He questioned why the government abandoned its moratorium, noting that current universities are already burdened with poor infrastructure, inadequate funding, and unpaid entitlements.

Egbedokun also condemned stalled negotiations with the government, rejecting the proposed 35% salary increase as “tokenistic” and insufficient to stem the exodus of lecturers. He warned that key issues, including the completion of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement, payment of salary arrears and promotions, release of withheld deductions, and sustainable funding remain unresolved, and urged the government to act within a month to avoid renewed strikes.