The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has disclosed reasons behind the non-implementation of the new salary structure for lecturers, stating that it will only take effect after the 2026 budget is passed into law.

ASUU President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, made this known in an interview with Nigerian Tribune, explaining that although the Federal Government intends to implement the agreement reached with the union, there are practical challenges delaying its full execution.

“Concerning the new agreement, the intention of government is clear; it is to implement it in full. But I want to believe there are practical difficulties at the moment.

“One is that the 2026 budget has not been passed, let alone becoming law. It is until that is done that the new salary structures will be fully implemented,” he said.

Piwuna noted that payments made for January and February were largely facilitated by vice-chancellors, resulting in uneven implementation across universities.

“In January, some universities were paid in full. When I said ‘in full’ it means that what they paid reflected what we agreed on in the new agreement, while other universities couldn’t meet up with full payment. Even for February, I don’t know of any university, as we are speaking, that has paid its workers,” he said.

He added that there are still areas requiring clarification, including allowances for lecturers in the medical field and payments for those on sabbatical.

“Another difficulty is the issue concerning special allowance for lecturers in the medical field. Some universities have paid while some others are yet to pay,” he said.

The ASUU president also expressed concern that state universities have yet to begin implementing the agreement.

“We are also aware that state universities have not started implementing this agreement with their lecturers. We have officially communicated to their visitors, who are state governors, on the need to prevent a situation where arrears will accumulate and will become another agitation by our members,” he said.

On withheld salaries, Piwuna insisted that lecturers must be paid their outstanding entitlements, describing them as legitimate earnings.

“So, we can’t forget our salaries, no matter the length of time. No one has ever forgone salary in Nigeria and ASUU won’t be the first,” he said.

He appealed to lecturers to remain patient, expressing optimism that the situation would improve once the budget is signed.

“Our understanding is that the 2026 budget will be signed into law this month, which we are all looking forward to,” he added.

While reaffirming ASUU’s commitment to stability in the university system, he warned that unresolved issues could pose risks if not addressed promptly.

(Nigerian Tribune)

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