The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, has rejected a new scheme introduced by the Federal Government, describing it as a “Greek gift” aimed at undermining the autonomy of Nigerian universities.
Speaking after an emergency congress held on campus, the union said the scheme—announced by the Ministry of Education as part of reforms to improve staff welfare and university funding—was “deceptive, unsustainable, and designed to entrap the academic community.”
Dr. Dele Ashiru, Chairman of ASUU-UNILAG, said members viewed the programme with deep suspicion because it failed to address the core issues that have kept public universities in crisis, such as poor funding, inadequate facilities, and the neglect of collective bargaining agreements.
>This so-called scheme is nothing but a bait. It is a Greek gift that seeks to weaken ASUU’s struggle for a truly revitalized and autonomous university system. It does not tackle the fundamental demands we have made consistently for over a decade,” Ashiru stated.
The union also accused the Federal Government of adopting a “divide-and-rule” tactic by pushing policies without adequate consultation with stakeholders in the university system.
ASUU noted that while the scheme promised improved welfare packages for staff, it ignored the full implementation of the 2009 agreement, the release of earned allowances, and the genuine revitalization of public universities across the country.
The congress resolved to mobilize members to resist the initiative, urging the Federal Government to prioritize genuine dialogue with ASUU leadership rather than “imposing half-baked programmes.”
The university system is not for experiments. Government must stop treating higher education as a political bargaining tool,” the statement read.
The development adds a fresh twist to the long-running standoff between ASUU and the Federal Government, with observers warning that if not properly managed, the disagreement could trigger another wave of disruptions in the academic calendar.
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