A prominent Nigerian educationist has raised serious concerns that the Federal Government might once again fail to implement its freshly signed agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). This warning comes despite a new resolution announced in December 2025, aimed at ending the perennial disputes in the nation's tertiary education sector.
A History of Broken Promises
In an exclusive interview, the educationist, Musa Zubairu, pointed to a long-standing pattern where the government signs agreements with ASUU only to abandon their implementation years later. He stressed that the current situation appears no different from past experiences.
"In most cases, ASUU sticks to the agreements reached, but the federal government does not fulfil its own part," Zubairu stated. "This has been the pattern over the years, and that is why many Nigerians are sceptical whenever a new resolution is announced."
Lack of Transparency and Communication
Zubairu, who is based in Kaduna, heavily criticised the government's poor communication and lack of transparency regarding these agreements. He argued that the public is rarely informed about the implementation status years after the initial fanfare.
"They should be telling Nigerians, year after year, what has been implemented and what has not," he said. "Once an agreement is signed, it is celebrated in the media, but after that, there is silence. The public is left in the dark."
He further decried the inadequate attention given to the education sector, describing it as insufficient for a country with Nigeria's size and aspirations. "Education is not given the attention it deserves. You cannot develop any nation without strong investment in education, yet the sector is treated as an afterthought," Zubairu added.
The 2009 Agreement and the New Deal
The core of the recurring disputes remains the 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU. This pact, designed to revive public universities through improved funding, staff welfare, and infrastructure, has been largely unimplemented, leading to numerous strikes.
The new agreement, finalized on December 23, 2025, and announced by ASUU on December 24, is scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026. It emphasizes improved welfare for academic staff and enhanced funding for universities, with a review clause every three years.
However, Zubairu noted that ASUU is often unfairly portrayed during disputes, despite its direct approach. "ASUU is usually more direct and clear about its demands. Ironically, the government itself designs many of these agreements, sits at the negotiation table, signs them, and then turns around to abandon implementation," he explained.
He issued a stern warning that unless the government demonstrates genuine political will and breaks from this tradition of neglect, the current resolution may suffer the same fate as its predecessors. The call is for the Federal Government to prioritize education funding and restore trust by fully honouring its commitments, as stability in the university system is deemed critical for national development.
