ASUU says it has yet to receive the N50bn revitalisation fund claimed by FG, warning of another strike if demands aren’t met by November 21, 2025

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has refuted claims by the Federal Government that it has released ₦50 billion as a revitalisation fund for federal universities, insisting that no such funds have been received.

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In a statement on Wednesday signed by Prof. Jurbe Molwus, the union said none of its core demands — including withheld salaries, wage awards, and promotion arrears has been addressed ahead of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 8 and 9, 2025.

“What we need is credit alerts, not misleading press releases,” Molwus said. “The N₦50bn revitalisation fund the FGN claimed to have released some weeks ago is yet to reach the universities. We do not know why the Minister of Education is still keeping it.”

Molwus also dismissed claims by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, that ₦2.3bn had been disbursed to settle salary and promotion arrears, describing the figure as “grossly inadequate and almost insulting.”

“Can ₦2.3bn settle arrears for all federal universities? Absolutely not. It’s a drop in the ocean. The amount cannot even cover three large universities,” he stated.

The union urged Nigerians to hold the Federal Government accountable, warning that it may resume its suspended strike if the issues remain unresolved by November 21, 2025, when its four-week ultimatum expires.

“Our strike was only suspended in good faith. If by November 21 nothing is done, ASUU should not be blamed for any renewed action,” Molwus warned.

ASUU had earlier embarked on a two-week warning strike on October 12, citing the government’s failure to honour agreements on staff welfare, infrastructure funding, and implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

Although the Federal Government criticised the strike and enforced a “No Work, No Pay” policy, the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund has since intervened, pledging to broker a new round of negotiations between ASUU, the Ministry of Education, and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Also read: ASUU strike ultimatum backed by NLC in bold joint move

The ongoing standoff underscores lingering tensions in Nigeria’s public university system, with lecturers expressing growing frustration over what they describe as government inaction and unfulfilled promises.