Union president calls for implementation of the December 2025 agreement and broader economic reforms to ease hardship.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has renewed its demand for the payment of withheld salaries and the resolution of outstanding welfare issues affecting university lecturers.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, made the call on Friday while briefing journalists at the union’s secretariat at the University of Jos, Plateau State.
Piwuna urged the Federal Government to urgently address unresolved issues concerning academic staff welfare and matters arising from the December 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement.
He said resolving the issues was necessary to restore confidence among lecturers and create a stable environment for effective teaching, research and learning in public universities.
The ASUU president also called for a shift in government policies ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging political parties and candidates to prioritise job creation, poverty reduction, education, economic development and the welfare of Nigerians.
Piwuna criticised what he described as IMF and World Bank-driven poverty alleviation policies, arguing that government should adopt more inclusive programmes tailored to Nigeria’s economic realities.
He urged federal and state governments to prioritise agriculture, industrial production and social protection as key drivers of job creation and economic growth.
Piwuna also called for stronger measures to tackle corruption and financial leakages, including the recovery of stolen public funds and improved accountability in the management of government resources.
He further urged the government to reduce unnecessary borrowing and explore sustainable financing options for development projects that directly benefit Nigerians.
The ASUU president also advocated a more progressive tax system that would require wealthier Nigerians to contribute more towards national development and poverty reduction.
“As an underdeveloped country yearning for rapid development, it’s the rich that must be taxed to give the poor a life worth living,” Piwuna said.