ASUU Strike: How Delayed Salaries Are Paralysing Nigeria’s Universities

Nigeria’s university teachers are on strike again because they haven’t been paid their salaries. The problem started when June salaries weren’t paid, and now many schools have stopped working.

This ASUU strike affects not just the teachers and students, but also small businesses near universities.

Lecturers Suspend Activities Nationwide

The immediate impact of delayed payments has been lecturers suspending academic activities, with many ASUU branches halting lectures until salaries are paid. Lecturers argue that teaching under financial uncertainty affects their mental well-being and productivity.

According to a recent report from ASUU, over 75% of federal universities have joined the current suspension, directly affecting approximately 2 million students nationwide.

Students Are Suffering 

Students are the ones suffering the most. Some can’t graduate on time, while others are dealing with a confusing school calendar. NANS (the student group) says a four-year course now takes 5 or 6 years because of strikes.

Students also face financial problems and emotional stress. With schools closed, many students who work or do internships on campus are losing money.

Small Businesses Are Losing Customers

When universities shut down, nearby businesses lose customers. Food sellers, transport drivers, hostel owners, and cybercafés say they’re losing up to 60% of their usual income. A survey at UNILAG, UI, and ABU Zaria found that 70% of small businesses are finding it hard to survive.

Why Are Salaries Delayed? 

At the core of salary delays is Nigeria’s chronic underfunding of higher education. The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), designed to stabilise universities financially, has seen repeated delays in disbursement. Bureaucratic bottlenecks at the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance further aggravate the crisis.

For instance, despite allocating ₦706 billion to education in the 2024 budget, only about 56% of these funds were disbursed in a timely to tertiary institutions, leaving universities cash-strapped and unable to pay salaries promptly. Systemic inefficiencies and corruption allegations further complicate timely funding.

What Can Be Done 

Experts agree that to end recurring salary delays, Nigeria needs comprehensive financial reforms in higher education funding. Dr. Olufemi Olanrewaju, an education economist, suggests:

• Introducing direct disbursements to universities from the Federation Account to reduce bureaucratic delays.
• Transparent budgeting processes and accountability measures to ensure timely releases of allocated funds.
• Increased funding from the national budget—moving closer to UNESCO’s recommendation of allocating at least 20% of the national budget to education.

ASUU, government leaders, and education experts need to meet soon and find quick solutions. Honest talks and clear updates can help reduce future strikes.

The ASUU strike shows that Nigeria’s education system has deep problems. Until the government reforms the way schools are funded, these strikes will continue, and that’s detrimental to the country’s future.