ASUU tackles FG, Lagos over unpaid allowances, salary arrears

The Lagos Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has voiced strong accusations against both the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government, asserting their failure to fully implement crucial aspects of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement. The union highlights that unpaid allowances, salary arrears, and outstanding welfare entitlements are significantly impacting university lecturers nationwide, exacerbating the already critical issue of brain drain across Nigerian institutions.

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payment of arrears of the 25-35 per cent salary award, arrears of promotion, remittances of third-party deductions (check-off dues, cooperative society deductions, pension contributions).

At a press conference held at the University of Lagos, ASUU presented its findings, detailing the inconsistent and fragmented manner in which the agreement has been implemented. The union emphasized that despite the agreement being the culmination of nearly a decade of renegotiations, the government's actions since its signing have fallen far short of expectations. Specific components, such as Consolidated Academic Tool Allowances, Earned Academic Allowances, and Professorial Allowances, have not been fully integrated into the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure as promised.

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We are perturbed that the government failed to take into consideration the strength of each university to adequately cover the shortfall in the salary component of recurrent cost. The consequence has been haphazard implementation,”

ASUU further detailed a series of unresolved financial obligations, including arrears for salary awards, promotion arrears, and the remittance of third-party deductions like check-off dues, cooperative society contributions, and pension funds. The union also pointed to salary shortfalls resulting from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and withheld salaries from a previous industrial action. The union's communique expressed perturbation that the government has not adequately considered the financial capacity of individual universities to cover salary shortfalls, leading to haphazard implementation. Furthermore, ASUU questioned the government's commitment to reimbursing universities for funds they mobilized to address these issues, casting doubt on the government's capacity and commitment to resolving the ongoing financial crisis within the university system.

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We are equally disturbed that the government’s attitude has not convinced the system that it has the commitment and capacity to reimburse the universities for the various amounts mobilised to ‘rescue the situation,”