The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the Federal Government’s newly launched Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), describing it as a “debt trap” that would further enslave university lecturers.
Speaking in Jos on Tuesday, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said Nigerian lecturers are already overwhelmed by debts due to poor remuneration, insisting that what they need is better funding for universities and the payment of withheld salaries.
“This scheme is a poison chalice. What our members need is their withheld salaries, wage arrears, and revitalisation funds — not another cycle of indebtedness,” Piwuna declared.
FG’s Loan Offer
The TISSF, unveiled last week, offers up to ₦10 million interest-free loans to academic and non-academic staff in public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, provided they have at least five years left before retirement.
ASUU’s Counter-Demands
The union, however, insists the government must instead:
- Release the ₦150bn revitalisation fund for universities.
- Pay the withheld 3.5 months’ salaries from the 2022 strike.
- Clear arrears of the 25–35% wage award.
- Reinstate “victimised” members in LASU, FUTO, and other campuses.
Looming Showdown
Following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Sokoto, ASUU directed its chapters nationwide to begin mobilising for protests and a possible strike if the government fails to exclude the union from the loan scheme and honour existing agreements.
“Trust has been destroyed by government,” Piwuna said. “We are prepared for the mother of all strikes if these issues are not addressed.”
With classrooms already on edge, the standoff raises fresh fears of another disruption to academic activities in Nigeria’s public universities.