The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure Zone, has strongly criticised the Federal Government over what it describes as the “reckless and politically motivated” proliferation of new universities across Nigeria, despite the government’s own moratorium on establishing additional tertiary institutions. The union insists that rather than creating new campuses that are bound to suffer neglect, the government must prioritise properly funding and revitalising existing universities, which continue to struggle under the weight of poor infrastructure, inadequate staffing, and chronic underfunding.
Speaking at a press conference held on Thursday at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, the Akure Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, accused the Federal Government of misrepresenting facts regarding ongoing negotiations with the union while simultaneously undermining the education sector through actions that contradict its own policies.
According to him, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), under President Bola Tinubu, had earlier announced a seven-year moratorium on establishing new universities. The decision, he noted, came after years of warnings from ASUU and education experts that the proliferation of universities—most of which are poorly funded and lack adequate facilities—was undermining the quality of higher education in Nigeria.
However, despite the moratorium, the Federal Government has approved nine new universities, including the recently announced Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe. This, Egbedokun argued, reflects a glaring lack of commitment to genuine reforms in the education sector.
“Only a few months ago, the government publicly declared that no new tertiary institutions would be established for seven years. This aligns with our longstanding demand: stop creating crisis centres. Fix the ones we have,” Egbedokun said. “But to our surprise, new approvals were announced barely months after the moratorium. If seven years suddenly becomes seven days, how are we expected to take government policy seriously?”
The zonal coordinator, flanked by ASUU branch chairmen from OAU, FUTA, EKSU, UNIMED, FUOYE, BOUESTI, and Adeyemi Federal University of Education, lamented that universities across the country remain grossly underfunded. He noted that many existing institutions lack essential teaching facilities, laboratories, hostels, and lecture halls, while academic staff work under deplorable conditions with no meaningful improvement in remuneration or welfare.
Government’s Offer “Insulting and Tokenistic”
On the lingering renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU–FG Agreement, Egbedokun disclosed that the union had rejected the Federal Government’s recent proposal of a 35% salary increase, describing it as “tokenistic, insulting, and incapable of addressing the massive brain drain in Nigerian universities.”
He argued that Nigerian academics continue to leave the country in large numbers due to poor working conditions and uncompetitive salaries, a trend that threatens the future of the nation’s higher education system.
“In clear terms, we reject the so-called 35% increase. It is not a living wage. It will not stop the brain drain. It will not restore dignity to the academic profession. What we need is a bold overhaul—not piecemeal adjustments,” he said.
The union also accused government officials of distorting facts in the media by citing the partial payment of promotion arrears—some of which date back to 2017—and the delayed release of third-party deductions owed to ASUU members as evidence of progress.
“These payments are rights, not privileges. They are debts long overdue. It is dishonest for government representatives to parade them as achievements,” Egbedokun stated.
A Countdown to Possible Industrial Action
With less than a month remaining in the window ASUU has given the Federal Government to address its demands, the zonal leadership warned that failure to honour pending commitments could plunge the university system into yet another round of industrial action.
“We call on the government to act with clarity, commitment, and sincerity. Nothing short of a respectable living wage and a comprehensive agreement will be acceptable. Nigeria cannot develop without properly funded universities, and universities cannot function without motivated staff,” Egbedokun said.
He reiterated ASUU’s key demands, which include:
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Completion of the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU–FGN Agreement
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Payment of outstanding 25% and 35% salary arrears
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Settlement of long-pending promotion arrears
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Release of withheld third-party deductions
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Sustainable funding model for public universities
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End to the indiscriminate creation of federal and state universities
“The surest way to secure Nigeria’s future is to invest meaningfully in education,” he emphasised.
Government Reacts: Epe University Was Approved Before Moratorium
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education has responded to criticisms surrounding the establishment of new universities. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, clarified that the approval for the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, as well as the universities in Kachia and Ogoniland, was granted by the President before the moratorium was announced by FEC.
According to Alausa, the approvals were made “through a Presidential Executive Memo prior to the FEC’s decision,” implying that the new institutions do not violate the moratorium.
However, ASUU insists that the creation of additional universities under any circumstance—moratorium or not—deepens the crisis facing tertiary education. The union argues that existing universities cannot meet global standards due to insufficient funding, obsolete teaching equipment, and inadequate staffing, making the establishment of new campuses a strain on already limited resources.
A Sector at a Crossroads
Observers note that the latest clash between ASUU and the Federal Government reflects deeper structural issues, including chronic underfunding, policy inconsistency, and political interference in education.
Nigeria currently has over 200 universities, yet many lack stable power supply, functional laboratories, updated libraries, or adequate student housing. Student–teacher ratios remain high, research output is low, and universities struggle to attract and retain top academics.
Against this backdrop, ASUU’s warning that new universities could become “crisis centres” resonates with stakeholders who fear that expanding the system without reform will dilute quality even further.
As both sides prepare for another round of negotiations—and with the possibility of industrial action looming—students, parents, and education experts are watching closely, hoping for a sustainable resolution that secures the future of Nigeria’s university system.
For now, ASUU’s message remains clear: Nigeria does not need more universities. It needs functional ones.
