ASUU Rejects Loan Scheme, Threatens Academic Shutdown

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that its members may soon take to the streets again, following unresolved disputes with the Federal Government.

The union, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, rejected its inclusion in the newly launched Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF).

ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, who signed the communiqué released on Tuesday, said the union viewed the initiative as an attempt to force it into becoming a guarantor of loans it had no hand in designing.

“We cannot be co-opted into a scheme that does not reflect the real needs of our members. 

"What our lecturers need is the release of their withheld salaries and a fair resolution of pending agreements, not loans that will burden them further,” the union stated.

The lecturers argued that rather than floating loan programmes, government should prioritise addressing their outstanding demands, particularly the payment of three-and-a-half months’ withheld wages.

The zero-interest loan scheme, launched last week by Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, offers academic and non-academic staff of universities and other tertiary institutions up to ₦10 million. 

To qualify, applicants must be registered with staff unions such as ASUU, SSANU or NASU and have at least five years left in service.

But ASUU has insisted that the initiative is not a substitute for its long-standing demands. 

The union urged the government to hasten the renegotiation and implementation of the FGN-ASUU agreement through the Yayale Ahmed-led committee.

It also restated its position on issues including conditions of service, proper funding of universities, institutional autonomy, academic freedom, and the review of laws governing the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Warning of looming action, the union disclosed that it has resolved to organise nationwide protests across its branches to mount pressure on the government.

“The slow pace of government in addressing these matters has left us with no option. 

"Our NEC has resolved to hold coordinated protests and press briefings across all branches.

 

"A date for the demonstrations will be announced soon,” the communiqué added.

ASUU has repeatedly accused the Federal Government of neglecting commitments made in past agreements, a position that has often resulted in prolonged strikes and disruptions in Nigeria’s higher education system.