The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has chided state universities for their lackadaisical attitude towards implementing the 2025 agreement reached between the union and the Federal Government.

It described the situation as a setback to the progress achieved by the union over the years.

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, expressed this concern while speaking on Channels TV Politics Paradigm, where he reviewed his one-year in office, as well as the situation with the Federal Government on the 2025 agreement.

He stated that many state-owned universities have continued to enjoy the benefits of the union’s struggles and achievements, yet have shown little commitment to the welfare of ASUU members within their institutions.

Piwuna noted that despite the agreement signed in December 2025 and implementation billed to commence in January 2026, only two state universities had fully implemented its provisions.

“Both Bauchi and Ekiti state governments have implemented in full our agreement with the Federal Government in their respective state universities,” he added.

The ASUU President, while explaining the delay in implementing the monetary component of the agreement, attributed the challenge to the shifting of the implementation responsibilities to vice chancellors.

He said: “We did not anticipate at the time that they were going to throw it at vice chancellors to seek funds to implement the monetary aspect of the agreement. Unfortunately, they had limitations. They couldn’t implement the agreement in full because the Federal Government, in particular, had not given them the needed funds to implement it.”

Piwna, who urged the Federal Government to regulate the award of honorary degrees, insisted that such powers rest solely with universities’ Senates.

He also raised concerns over the proposed National Research Council, alleging that the government had forwarded a document different from the agreed framework to the National Assembly.

Piwna, however, dismissed claims of an immediate strike, warning that unresolved issues in state universities could compel ASUU to act at the national level.

“There is no impending strike, but we have serious concerns, especially with state universities. If these issues persist, the union will respond appropriately,” he added.