The Academic Staff Union of Universities has threatened to shut down public universities across Nigeria if the Federal Government fails to address outstanding salary payments and other unresolved issues affecting university lecturers.
The union issued the warning amid growing concerns over unpaid salaries and what it described as the government’s failure to implement agreements reached with university workers.
ASUU maintained that lecturers should not be expected to continue working without receiving their earned salaries, stressing that the situation had reached a critical point.
The union warned that failure to resolve the payment issues could lead to a total nationwide shutdown of academic activities, with its position summed up in the phrase, “No pay, no classes.”
The development has raised fresh concerns over the stability of Nigeria’s university system, particularly as students and institutions continue to deal with the effects of previous disruptions to academic calendars.
ASUU has repeatedly called on the Federal Government to honour agreements reached with the union, improve funding for public universities and address issues surrounding staff welfare and working conditions.
The union has also maintained that sustainable funding and improved conditions for lecturers are necessary to prevent recurring industrial disputes and ensure uninterrupted academic activities.
The latest warning puts pressure on the Federal Government to engage with the union and resolve the outstanding issues before they escalate into another nationwide disruption of university education.
Students, parents and university communities are likely to be closely watching developments as both sides consider the next steps toward resolving the dispute.
