The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has cautioned the Federal Government to prepare for consequences following its alleged non-compliance with the 2026 agreement, particularly the failure to set up the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) as promised.
ASUU noted that the initial optimism from the agreement’s signing on January 14, 2026, is fading fast, and could vanish entirely if the government continues to ignore its obligations to fully enact the pact.
Speaking on Wednesday, the union’s Kano Zone Coordinator, Professor Abdulkadir Muhammad, stated: ‘Our worry stems from the government’s refusal to establish the IMC, which was meant to shield the agreement from bureaucratic hurdles and ensure smooth implementation.’
He added that so far, federal officials have executed the agreement in a disjointed and uncoordinated manner, with only a handful of state governments adopting and enforcing it.
Muhammad further revealed that vice-chancellors of federal universities have only partially implemented allowances like CATA, EAA, and PA, although these were supposed to be merged into the CONUASS salary structure for academics.
He also accused some state governors of ignoring the agreement, despite their council representatives being part of the negotiation process.
‘While we commend a few state universities for leading the way, Kano Zone strongly criticizes the selective or outright refusal of many vice-chancellors to apply the salary component of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement,’ Muhammad said.
ASUU urged both federal and state governments to honor the deal to maintain peace in Nigerian universities. The union remains dedicated to ensuring all members benefit from the hard-won gains of the eight-year negotiation (2017-2025).
Muhammad highlighted that the IMC’s absence has also undermined the National Research Council (NRC), another key part of the agreement. He expressed alarm that on April 7, 2026, Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa announced a National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF) without consulting ASUU.
‘The union is shocked that the minister referenced a $500 million fund without acknowledging the research provisions in the FGN-ASUU agreement. While we welcome stakeholder input, we insist the government sticks to the agreement’s objectives. We will resist any attempts by external forces to derail the nation’s research agenda,’ Muhammad concluded.