The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities (COPSUN) has urged the Federal Government to take immediate action to avert another strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
In a communiqué issued at the end of its 69th meeting in Abuja, signed by Acting Chairman Prof. Ayodeji Omole, the pro-chancellors cautioned that Nigerian universities could not withstand another round of disruptions.
“The nation cannot afford another round of industrial action in the university system as the universities are yet to fully recover from the disruptions of the last crisis,” the communiqué stated.
Background to the Dispute
ASUU recently embarked on nationwide protests, demanding the full implementation of the renegotiated 2009 FG-ASUU agreement. The union has consistently called for improved salaries, better conditions of service, adequate funding for universities, autonomy, and a review of the laws governing the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Pro-Chancellors’ Recommendations
To prevent a breakdown in industrial relations, the pro-chancellors advised the Federal Government to:
Increase annual budgetary allocation to education to strengthen the university system.
Involve COPSUN representatives in negotiations with university-based unions to achieve more effective dispute resolution.
Ensure governing councils operate strictly within university laws to minimize friction with vice-chancellors and principal officers.
The communiqué emphasized that proactive measures were crucial to maintaining stability in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Commendation on University Moratorium
In a related development, COPSUN commended the Federal Government for placing a moratorium on the establishment of new universities. According to the body, the decision will help consolidate and strengthen existing institutions rather than stretching limited resources further.
The call comes amid growing concern that another prolonged ASUU strike could derail academic calendars and further weaken Nigeria’s already fragile university system.
