FULafia ASUU Protests ‘Pauperisation’ of Academics, Rejects FG Loan Policy
- Metro Plus
- 27.08.2025
- No Comment
- 38
FULafia ASUU Protests ‘Pauperisation’ of Academics, Rejects FG Loan Policy
(FULafia) chapter, on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest over what they described as the
“pauperisation of Nigerian academics.” The protesting lecturers also rejected the Federal
Government’s loan policy, insisting that it was not a substitute for a robust and sustainable
funding model for the education sector.
saw union members carrying placards with inscriptions such as
“Fund education, not loans,” “Stop pauperising lecturers,”
and “Revitalize our universities.”
The demonstration took place within the university premises and was coordinated by
the FULafia ASUU leadership.
explained that lecturers across the country have been subjected to poor working conditions,
stagnated wages, and lack of incentives despite their crucial role in nation building.
He noted that many Nigerian academics struggle to meet basic needs due to poor remuneration,
while the government continues to push policies that further worsen their plight.According to the union, the introduction of a student loan scheme by the Federal Government
cannot be a replacement for adequate public funding of universities. They argued that
such loans would only transfer the burden of education financing to already struggling
students and their families, instead of addressing the core issues of poor infrastructure
and underfunding in universities.
describing it as a “false solution” to the education crisis in Nigeria. They stressed that
the policy was not only impractical but also unsustainable in the long term.One of the lecturers who spoke during the protest noted:
The loan system is a trap. It will push young Nigerians into debt without
solving the real issues in our universities. What we need is improved funding,
functional facilities, and fair treatment of lecturers.
The union maintained that the loan scheme fails to address the real challenges facing the
university system, such as inadequate laboratories, poor hostels, dilapidated lecture halls,
and unpaid allowances. They argued that instead of introducing loans, the government
should prioritize funding agreements already signed with ASUU over the years.
According to the protesters, lecturers have been forced into poverty by stagnant salaries,
delayed promotions, and inadequate welfare packages. The union lamented that while the
cost of living in Nigeria has skyrocketed, lecturers’ salaries have remained unchanged
for more than a decade.ASUU leaders explained that many academics now struggle to cope with basic expenses,
ranging from housing and transportation to healthcare and child education.
This financial pressure, they warned, could weaken the quality of teaching and research,
ultimately affecting the nation’s human capital development.
exodus of lecturers from Nigerian universities to institutions abroad, where conditions
are far better. This brain drain, they warned, threatens the future of the Nigerian
educational system.
Nigeria’s university system. Chief among them were:
- Immediate implementation of improved salary structures for lecturers.
- Full funding and revitalization of Nigerian universities.
- Payment of withheld salaries and earned academic allowances.
- Rejection of loan-based funding models in favor of grants and scholarships.
- Commitment to honoring all agreements previously signed with ASUU.
They urged the Federal Government to see education not as a burden but as a strategic
investment in the nation’s future. Without adequate funding, they warned, Nigerian
universities risk falling further behind global standards.
was not confrontational but peaceful. They emphasized that their goal was not to
disrupt academic activities but to draw the attention of the government and the
Nigerian public to the worsening conditions in the education sector.The demonstration, which lasted several hours, ended with a vow by ASUU members
to continue pressing their demands through dialogue, negotiations, and further
peaceful protests if necessary.
Academic Staff Union of Universities nationwide. Over the years, ASUU has
consistently clashed with the Federal Government over issues of funding, welfare,
and university autonomy. Several nationwide strikes have been staged in the past,
disrupting academic calendars and delaying students’ graduation timelines.While ASUU has often been criticized for its frequent strikes, union leaders
insist that their actions are necessary to pressure the government into fulfilling
promises made to the education sector. They argue that without such measures,
Nigeria’s university system would deteriorate even further.
for their lecturers, acknowledging that better welfare for academics would lead
to improved teaching and learning conditions. Others, however, expressed worry
that the protest could escalate into another prolonged ASUU strike, which could
further delay their academic programs.A student leader who spoke during the protest noted:
We support our lecturers because we know the challenges they face.
But we also plead that the government should act quickly to avoid another
strike that will keep us at home.
who have long called for improved funding, fair treatment, and sustainable education policies.
By rejecting the Federal Government’s loan policy, the union is insisting on a more
fundamental approach to solving the crisis in Nigeria’s universities.As the debate continues, one thing is clear: without urgent action, the future of
Nigeria’s higher education system remains uncertain. For now, FULafia’s lecturers
have made their voices heard, sending a strong message that the battle for quality
education and dignity of academics is far from over.
