History, Presidents,
Agreements, Causes,
Effects
Takeoff Thoughts:
“Reason abandons a nation in which
everyone is right on a disputed issue.
Chaos rules a nation in which everyone
is aggrieved. The chief enemy of a great
future is a self-indulgent present. The
state is a moderator and modulator of
conflicting social interests, so as to
optimize the security of all.”
The fear of ASUU Strike is the
beginning of “Academic Standstill”
There are 4 staff unions in
Nigerian Universities:
 Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU),
 Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria Universities (SSANU),
 National Association of
Academic Technologists
(NAAT), and
 Non-Academic Staff Union of
Educational and Associated
Institutions (NASU)
The ASUU was formed in 1978, a successor
to the Nigerian Association of University
Teachers (NAUT) formed in 1965.
NAUT covered academic staff in the
University of Ibadan University of Ife
Ahmadu Bello University
University of Lagos
ASUU Presidents Till Date
No. ASUU President
Start
End
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
2012
2008
2004
2000
1994
1990
1987
1982
1980
1979
1977
2012
2008
2004
2000
1994
1990
1986
1982
1980
1978
Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge
Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie
Dr. Abdullahi Sule-Kano
Dr. Dipo Fashina
Prof. Assissi Asobie
Prof. Attahiru Mohammed Jega
Prof. Festus Iyayi (late)
Dr. Mahmud Modibbo Tukur (late)
Prof. Biodun Jeyifo
Dr. B.A Ogundimu
Prof. I.O. Agbede
ASUU / FG Agreements
No.
1
2
3
4
Year
Agreement
1983, 1992, Several agreement to develop the
1999, 2001 Education sector
Several of ASUU’s demands including the
1992
right of workers to collective bargaining
Re-negotiation of the agreement; the reinstatement of over eighty lecturers
sacked at the University of Abuja by the
1994
then
Vice-Chancellor,
Prof.
Isa
Mohammed and the de-annulment of the
June 12, 1993 elections ostensibly won by
Chief M.K.O. Abiola
Re-negotiation of the 1992 agreement
1996
and the re-instatement of the UNI ABUJA
sacked academics
No.
Year
5
1999
6
2001
7
2004
8
2009
Agreement
The government signed an agreement on
percentage increases in the allowances of
academics
Government forced to resume negotiation
and subsequent signing of the agreement
on June 30, 2001.
FGN inaugurated the FGN/ASUU Renegotiating Committee under the leadership
of Deacon Gamaliel Onosode to re-negotiate
the 2001 Agreement which had been due
for re-negotiation since June 2004
Re-negotiation of previous agreements
started on January 23, 2007 was concluded
in January 2009
ASUU
123
456
789
Points Agreement with FG
Funding
requirements for
revitalization of
Nigerian
Universities
Progressive increase
in annual budgetary
allocation to
Education to 26%
between 2009 &
2020
Reinstatement of
prematurely
dissolved
Governing
Councils
Establishment of
Federal
Nigerian University
Government’s
Pension
assistance to
Management
State Universities
Committee
Payment of
earned
allowances
Amendment of the
pension/retirement
age of academics
on the professorial
cadre from 65 - 70
Transfer of Federal
Government
landed property to
Universities
Setting up of Research
Development Council &
provision of Research
Equipment to
laboratories and
classrooms in universities
The 2009 Agreement had been
due for re-negotiation since
Jan 2012
This led to the Strike of Dec 4, 2011
which ended February 2, 2012
ASUU Strike Chronology
Statistics from the National
Universities Commission (2002)
reveal that since 1992, ASUU has
embarked on strikes over 23 times to
drive home its demands.
2013 – 1992 = 21 years
ASUU approximately marks
every year with Strike
 In 1980, ASSU embarked on an initial industrial action arising from
the need to resist the termination of the appointment of six
lecturers from University of Lagos, as a result of the report of
Justice Belonwu Visitation Panel Report linked to university
autonomy and academic freedom.
 Subsequently, in 1980 and 1981, ASUU embarked on further
strikes to demand funding for the universities, the reversal of the
problem of brain drain, poor salaries, and conditions of service,
including the improvement of entire university system.
 In 1983 there was negotiation on the Elongated University Salary
Structure (EUSS) and this became an issue of dispute in 1988
because of the lack of implementation of this prior agreement.
Failure to implement those policies which were negotiated in
order to conclude previous disputes, have been a constant factor
in subsequent disputes.
 In 1984, ASUU went on strike to oppose deregulation of the
economy and to resist military dictatorship
 In 1985, the union embarked on strike to resist the military regime and
its authoritarian decree 16 of 1985 for allowing the National Universities
Commission to take over the responsibilities of the Senate and allowing
external authorities to regulate programmes in Nigerian universities.
 1n 1986, ASUU went on strike to protest the introduction of Structural
Adjustment Programmes (SAP) by Ibrahim Babangida’s administration
and, at the same time, the union members opposed the killing of
students at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria by mobile Police
 In 1987, ASUU went on strike to demand the implementation of
Elongated University Salary Scale and to establish a joint negotiation
committee between ASUU and the federal government.
 In 1988 against the effects of the recently imposed Structural
Adjustment Programme.
 In 1990 ASUU was de-proscribed
 In May and July 1992 went on strike due to the failure of negotiations
between the union and the federal government over the working
conditions in Nigerian universities. An agreement was reached in
September 1992.
 In 1993, ASUU was banned again because it refused the order of
Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) to suspend industrial action and
return to negotiation table.
 In 1994 ASUU embarked again on a strike to demand renegotiation of
agreements reached in 1992, the reinstatement of over eighty lecturers
whose appointment was terminated by Prof. Isa Mohammed, the Vice
Chancellor of the university of Abuja and to resist the annulment of the
June 12 1993 Presidential election, widely perceived to have been won
by M.K.O. Abiola.
 In 1996, ASUU embarked a on strike due to the dismissal of the ASUU
President Dr. Assisi Asobie.
 On May 25, 1999 the government signed an agreement on percentage
increases in the allowances of academics. This agreement was “without
prejudice to a comprehensive negotiation at a future date” between
the two parties.
 In 1999 and 2000, around both salary issues, and the issue of
government support for the sector.
 In 2001 ASUU declared industrial action on issues related to
funding of universities, but also seeking the reinstatement of 49
sacked lecturers at the University of Ilorin for taking part in previous
industrial action in 2001.
 The FGN did not sign the Agreement as Dr. Babalola Borisade who
replaced Prof. Tunde Adeniran as Minister of Education prevented
the Federal Government’s Team from signing the Agreement.
ASUU rejected Borisade’s moves and resumed its suspended strike.
This forced the government to resume negotiations and the
subsequent signing of the Agreement on June 30, 2001.
 In July 2002, ASUU’s National President, Dr. Oladipo Fashina,
petitioned Justice Mustapha Akanbi of the Independent Corrupt
Practices and other related practices Commission to investigate the
authorities of the University of Ilorin for financial mismanagement
and corruption.
 The Government of Obasanjo did not implement the 2001
agreement, prompting ASUU to embark on another strike on
December 29, 2002.
 In 2003 ASUU embarked on further industrial action due to the nonimplementation of previous agreements, poor university funding and
disparity in salary, retirement age and non-implementation.
 The ding-dong between the FGN and ASUU continued until December
14, 2006, when the then Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili
on behalf of the FGN inaugurated the FGN/ASUU Re-negotiating
Committee under the leadership of Deacon Gamaliel Onosode to renegotiate the 2001 Agreement which had been due for re-negotiation
since June 2004.
 It was the same agitation of salary increment and other reforms in the
education sector the ASUU cried on in 2005 that led to the strike
 In 2007, ASUU went on another strike for three months.
 In May 2008, it held two one-week “warning strikes” to press on a range
of demands, including an improved salary scheme and re-instatement
of 49 lecturers who were dismissed many years ago.
 In 2009, ASUU embarked on an indefinite strike over disagreement with
the FG on an earlier agreement reached. After three months of strike, in
October 2009, an MoU was signed and the strike was called off.
Now 18 months after it suspended its
industrial action over the nonimplementation of some aspects of the
2009 agreement with the Federal
Government, ASUU has directed its
members nationwide to down tools
immediately.
Current industrial action started:
July
st
1 ,
2013
Aug 20th makes 50 days
Funding
requirements for
revitalization of
Nigerian
Universities
Progressive increase
in annual budgetary
allocation to
Education to 26%
between 2009 &
2020
Implemented!
Establishment of
Federal
Nigerian University
Government’s
Pension
assistance to
Management
State Universities
Committee
Payment of
earned
allowances
Implemented!
Transfer of Federal
Government
landed property to
Universities
Setting up of Research
Development Council &
provision of Research
Equipment to
laboratories and
classrooms in universities
Some Documented Records of ASUU Strike
Year
Duration (in months)
1981
1988
1992
1993
1996
1999
2001
2003
2007
2008
2009
2011
2013
2
2
3
4
6
3
6
6
4
0.5
5
1
1+
Cumulatively,
the Nigerian
University
System has
spent over
2years
observing
different strike
actions
between 1981
and 2013.
Causes of ASUU Strikes
No Causes
1 Conflict between ASUU, SSANU on salary parity
2 Poor implementation of agreement by FG
3 Review of salaries
4 Review of fringe benefits and allowances
5 Increased university autonomy
6 Appointment of governing councils
7 Appointment of Vice-Chancellors
8 Modification of NUC roles in universities
Minimum standards of accreditation to be handled by
9
universities
10 Restructuring of NUC
11 Improved level of funding
12 Transfer of landed properties to universities
13 Government patronage to university consultancy
14 Reduction of JAMB’s role in admission
Stella I. Madueme and Glad Aneked
Facts from Committee on Needs Assessment of
Nigerian Public Universities
 There are 37,504 academics in the country’s public
 23,030 (61%) in Federal Universities while 14, 474 (39 %) teach in
State-owned Universities
 Total Male academics are 31,128 (83%) and Female 6,376 (17%)
 Only about 16,127 (43%) of Nigerian universities teaching staff have
doctorate degrees, instead of 75%
 Only about 16,502 (44%) are within the bracket of Senior lecturers
and Professors
 Only seven (7) Universities (IMSU, UNICAL, OSUST, NOUN, UNIPORT,
UNILORIN & UNIUYO) have up to 60 % of their teaching staff with
PhD qualification
 Kano State University which is 11 years old, has one Professor and 25
lecturers with PhDs, Kebbi State University has two professors and
five lecturers who have PhDs.
 74% of lecturers in the Plateau State University Bokkos, are visiting
The ratio of teaching staff to students in many universities
is 1:100
National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) teaching staff
to students is 1: 363
 University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) teaching staff to students is 1:122
 Lagos State University (LASU)staff to students is 1:144
 In contrast, in Harvard University, it is 1: 4; Massachusetts Institute
of Technology- 1:9; and Cambridge-1:3.
 There is numerically more support than teaching staff in the
universities
 It was discovered that the non-teaching staff double, triple or
quadruple the teaching staff
 Physical facilities for teaching and learning in the public universities
are inadequate, dilapidated, over-stretched and improvised
 Laboratories & Workshops equipment as well as consumables are
either absent, inadequate or outdated Kerosene stoves are being
used as Bunsen burners in some Universities
 Some engineering workshops operate under zinc sheds and trees
 Many science-based faculties are running what is referred to as
“Dry Lab,” due to lack of reagents and tools to conduct real
experiments
 163 of the 701 physical uncompleted projects it found had been
abandoned
 There are a total of 1,252,913 students in the public universities
 5% Sub-degree, 85% Undergraduates, 3% Postgraduate diploma
5% Master’s and 2% Ph.D.
 As against the National Policy on Education that stipulates 60:40
enrolment in favour of science-based programmes, 66.1% of them
are studying Arts, Social Sciences, and Management and Education
courses
 Only 16% of Students are studying Science and Science-education
courses; 6.3% Engineering; 5% Medicine, while 6.6% studying
Agriculture, Pharmacy and Law
Selected Journals by Comparison between
Nigeria and Other Countries
Total
Output
Papers from
Nigeria
Papers from other
Countries
African Journal of Library and Archives
Information
43
16
27
Journal of Cameroon Academy of Science
68
7
61
African Journal of Neurological Science
37
3
34
African Educational Journal Research Network
55
33
22
Ethiopia Journal of Social Science and Humanities
13
0
13
Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science
86
13
73
Journal of Tropical Microbiology and
Biotechnology
7
1
6
Global Journal of Engineering Research
43
43
0
Journal of Environmental Science
47
399
40
156
39.10%
7
243
60.90%
Journal
At independence in October 1960, the salary
of the Prime Minister of the Federation of
Nigeria was only eight hundred pounds
(£800) more than that of the Principal (that is
the future Vice Chancellor) of the University
College, Ibadan, while the latter certainly
earned more than the Nigerian Army
Commander and General. The Prime Minister’s
personal emolument was put at £4,500, while
the Principal of University College, Ibadan, was
paid £3,750, and the Army Major General and
Commissioner £3,580.
(Ifeanyi Onyeonoru)
By 1966, the university Professor was paid
£3,000. This was higher than the £2,700
paid a federal Prime Minister or a federal
Permanent Secretary. A federal Cabinet
Minister took between £2,700 & £3,000. A
federal top Civil Servant of the rank of
Permanent Secretary, received between
£2,500 & £2,940. An Assistant Lecturer
(often first class or second class upper
division) was offered £950, while his
counterparts who went into the federal civil
service received £720.
Effect of
Strike
7 Negative Effects Strikes – BY DAYO ADESULU
 On the negative side is the depressing effect on the quality of graduates
from Nigerian universities since time lost due to strikes that should be used
for delivering the curriculum is not gained after the strike.
 The second effect is the poor public image of Nigerian universities.
 The third effect is loss of revenue. Many potential students prefer
universities in neighbouring African countries including Ghana, Benin and
Togo not because of superiority of academic programme offerings but
because of instability of academic calendar owing to strikes.
 Fourth is financial loss to the universities. When the university shuts down
due to strikes, staff are paid, even if it is several months after, but they end
up being paid.
 The fifth effect is psychological on the part of students who have to stay
idle at home, lamenting their woes and causing irritation to parents.
 The sixth effect closely connected to the fifth is engagement of the idle
students in social vices including joining bad gangs and engagement in
internet fraud.
 The seventh is what can be broadly grouped as collateral effect. Some
undergraduates die in road accidents during the period of the strike in an
attempt to “stretch their legs” to visit friends to kill the idleness.
When ASUU Strikes;
Classrooms
become
Empty!
Education is not a commodity just for
sale. It is a social good. It is the social
responsibility of any government to its
people. It is the engine of growth,
development and transformation of any
society. Higher Education restores to
mankind its humanity.
The University is the brain-box of a
nation. To shut it down is to a nation the
equivalent of a stroke to a person. There
is a nervous breakdown!
There is no university system in
the world that has no strike
history. However, ours in Nigeria
is at the extreme with strikes
lingering for months. In North
America, Europe and Asia where
the top-ranked universities reside,
strikes last for a few hours or
maximum one day!
Professor Biko Agozino, a professor of sociology and
Director of Africana Studies Programme, Virginia
Tech, Blacksburg, in one of his publications said:
”The time has come for us to review the permanent
revolution strategy of ASUU and see if the mode of
protest has outstripped the means of protest and
what needs to be done. The preferred means of
protest by ASUU is the declaration of indefinite strikes.
If we look around the world, it is clear that this means
of protest is no longer as popular as it once seemed in
the 20th Century.
(BY DAYO ADESULU)
Reference:
 ASUU Strike: Context, Nigerian Education And Future – Sahara Reporters site admin
 Ifeanyi Onyeonoru “Human Capital in Nigerian Universities: The Presence of the Past and the Thrust of the
Future”
 S. Chiemeke, O. B. Longe. F.A. Longe, I.O. Shaib Research Outputs from Nigerian Tertiary Institutions: An
Empirical Appraisal,”
 Stella I. Madueme and Glad Aneke “Economic Analysis of the Impact of Labour Unionist Activities on
Educational Stability in Nigerian Universities”
 Front page Cartoon by Jimoh B.S.
Analysis by: Wale Micaiah
e: walegate@yahoo.com
m: 08078001800
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