Staff Support Fund: Don’t take FG’s loan, it’s ‘poisoned chalice’ – ASUU warns tertiary workers

• While the government touted the fund as a welfare and empowerment programme, ASUU argued that it offers little value, as its members are already “deep in debt from such loans.”

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned its members against taking a loan from the federal government under the Staff Support Fund scheme.

The union rejected the new government’s loan initiative for tertiary institution workers, calling it a “poisoned chalice” and charging its members to demand the implementation of the long-standing 2009 agreement.

The union, through its National President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, made its position on the issue and other sundry matters known at a press conference in Jos on Thursday.

Speaking Prof. Piwuna kicked against the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund, which was unveiled two weeks ago by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

While the government touted the fund as a welfare and empowerment programme, ASUU argued that it offers little value, as its members are already “deep in debt from such loans.”

The union said that all it wanted was for the government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement, which would improve the purchasing power of its members and reduce their reliance on debt.

The key issues in the 2009 agreement include improved conditions of service, university autonomy, academic freedom, adequate funding for universities, and a review of laws governing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Prof. Piwuna accused the government of delaying the renegotiation process despite the submission of the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed Report in February 2025. He also questioned the government’s priorities, noting that the union’s members are still owed three and a half months’ salaries. He called on the government to use the money designated for the loans to pay the withheld salaries instead.

ASUU warned that it is prepared to embark on a strike if its demands are not met. The union has planned a nationwide rally on campuses next week as a “first shot” to draw attention to its grievances.

While acknowledging a planned meeting with the government on August 28, Piwuna stated that the union’s National Executive Committee would be “decisive on the outcome of the meeting.”

“Trust has been destroyed by government,” Piwuna said. “It is, therefore, up to them to regain it to avert any strike.”