ASUU Opposes 9 Newly Approved Varsities, Threatens Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the Yola zone has opposed the recent approval of nine new universities by the federal government, threatening to go on strike if the existing universities are not adequately funded. The zonal coordinator, Dani Mamman, expressed concerns about the systematic destruction of Nigeria's higher education system due to the lack of infrastructure and staffing in existing universities.

Mamman criticized the government for prioritizing expansion over revitalizing existing institutions, leading to a situation where students are learning in collapsed classrooms and obsolete laboratories. The union also rejected the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF) introduced by the government, calling it a debt trap that would further burden members already struggling with poor wages and unpaid entitlements.

The zone, which includes universities in Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, and Yobe states, urged the government to implement previous agreements or face industrial action.