THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has refuted the Federal Government’s announcement that it has released ₦50 billion as part of its commitment toward revitalising public universities, insisting that no funds have been disbursed to any institution.
The rebuttal comes just days ahead of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 8–9, 2025, where the union says it will review the government’s response to its demands and decide the next line of action.
In a statement issued late on Wednesday sent to News Point Nigeria, ASUU’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Jurbe Molwus, said lecturers across federal universities have continued to wait in vain for the settlement of withheld salaries and arrears promised by government officials who persuaded the union to suspend its last industrial action.
“What we need are credit alerts, not misleading releases,” Molwus said.
He listed outstanding demands including payment of 3.5 months withheld salaries, arrears of the 25% and 35% wage awards, backlog of promotions, and unpaid salaries for some members still trapped in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Molwus dismissed the Federal Government’s earlier claim that ₦2.3 billion had been released to settle salary arrears and welfare benefits, questioning both the veracity and adequacy of the amount.
“How can a meagre ₦2.3 billion clear promotion and salary arrears of workers in all federal universities? It is grossly inadequate and almost insulting,” he argued.
The union also expressed frustration with the Education Ministry’s “contradictory” public statements and what it described as deliberate misinformation to create the impression of progress.
Molwus alleged that even the supposed ₦50 billion revitalisation fund “has not reached a single university,” describing the minister’s claims as “fictional.”
He urged Nigerians particularly students and parents to hold the government responsible should another shutdown of universities occur.
“Our goodwill should not be mistaken for weakness,” he warned.
“The four-week ultimatum lapses on November 21. If nothing is done, ASUU cannot be blamed for whatever happens after that date.”
Amid growing tension, the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund has said it will reopen negotiations between ASUU and key government stakeholders, while also intervening in the dispute between the University of Abuja and the Federal Capital Territory Administration over encroachment on university land.
ASUU suspended its two-week “total and comprehensive” strike on October 26, 2025, after a Senate appeal. The industrial action itself followed a 14-day ultimatum issued on September 28 over unmet demands surrounding staff welfare, funding for infrastructure, renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN pact, and salary arrears withheld under the No-Work-No-Pay directive.