ASUU Coventry University Nigeria plan faces opposition as union rejects UK campus proposal and issues ultimatum on lecturers’ salaries

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has rejected agreements between the Federal Government and the United Kingdom on education, including plans to establish a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria.

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ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, made the union’s position known at a public lecture organised by the union’s branch at Sa’adu Zungur University, describing the proposal as unacceptable and potentially damaging to Nigeria’s university system.

Piwuna argued that the ASUU Coventry University Nigeria development reflects a broader trend that could undermine local institutions.

He expressed concern that while Nigerian students face visa restrictions to study in the United Kingdom, British universities are expanding into Nigeria.

“They have denied Nigerians visas to study in the UK, yet they are coming here to establish universities and take our money. This is another form of colonialism, and ASUU will strongly oppose it,” he said.

The ASUU leader further alleged that some foreign universities are responding to declining international student enrolment and financial pressures by seeking expansion into countries like Nigeria.

He insisted that the priority should be strengthening domestic universities rather than opening the sector to foreign dominance.

Beyond the policy concerns, Piwuna also issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the agreed new salary structure for university lecturers. He warned that failure to act within the timeframe would trigger a response from the union.

“We cannot continue to wait indefinitely for the implementation of the new salary structure. If at the end of this month nothing is done, they will hear from us,” he said.

In her remarks, Vice-Chancellor of Sa’adu Zungur University, Fatima Tahir, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to staff welfare, noting that steps had been taken to meet obligations and maintain financial stability.

She urged academic staff to remain committed to their duties while balancing welfare demands with the need to sustain institutional growth and integrity.

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The development underscores growing tensions within Nigeria’s higher education sector, as stakeholders debate the role of foreign institutions alongside unresolved welfare issues affecting academic staff.