An open letter to the new ASUU President, Comrade Christopher Piwuna, by Dr Tukur Madu Yemi

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An open letter to the new ASUU President, Comrade Christopher Piwuna, by Dr Tukur Madu Yemi

Dear Comrade President,

I write to extend my heartfelt congratulations on your well-merited election as President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Your emergence at this critical juncture offers a glimmer of renewed hope to many within the Nigerian academic community who earnestly yearn for visionary, people-centred, and purpose-driven leadership.

Your ascension to this office coincides with a most defining period in the history of Nigerian university education — a period marked by institutional decay, chronic underfunding, and the growing demoralisation of the academic workforce. While we duly acknowledge the resolve and resilience exhibited by your predecessor in confronting these challenges, your tenure presents an opportunity to recalibrate our struggle, particularly in the area of staff welfare and strategic engagement.

We must not forget that, in the not-too-distant past, the Nigerian academic commanded societal respect and occupied a privileged economic status. Professors, at one time, earned salaries commensurate with — and sometimes exceeding — those of Major Generals in the Nigerian Army, Federal Permanent Secretaries, Police Commissioners, and High Court Judges. The university system attracted the brightest minds, and academia was viewed as both noble and rewarding.

Today, the situation is disheartening. The parity once enjoyed by academics has been systematically eroded. University lecturers have become some of the most poorly remunerated professionals in the public sector, despite their pivotal role in national development. This regression has precipitated the mass exodus of intellectual capital, plummeting research output, and widespread disenchantment within the system.

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It is within this context that we urge you to prioritise the welfare of ASUU members as the nucleus of your leadership agenda. While the union’s struggle for revitalisation funds, institutional autonomy, and infrastructural improvement remains sacrosanct, these objectives must not overshadow the fundamental need to restore the dignity of the Nigerian academic. The demand must extend beyond improved salaries to encompass robust and sustainable benefits — including healthcare, housing, pensions, and other welfare packages befitting the stature of intellectual nation-builders.

Furthermore, your tenure must distinguish itself by ensuring that government commitments are honoured and not reduced to perfunctory promises. The disappointments experienced under the previous administration — where agreements were signed but seldom implemented — should not be allowed to recur. A pertinent example is the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), which, despite being agreed upon for payment within one week, remains unpaid for more than a month. Such disregard for mutual agreements undermines trust and diminishes the credibility of collective bargaining.

ASUU must now adopt a more strategic, evidence-based, and assertive approach to negotiations. We must insist on clear timelines, enforceable commitments, and mechanisms for accountability. No longer should our struggles culminate in shelved memoranda and unfulfilled expectations. Results, not rhetoric, must define this new phase of engagement.

Comrade President, we are confident in your capacity to steer this union toward a more impactful and progressive future. However, we urge you to lead with openness, avoid factionalism, embrace inclusive consultations, and ensure continuous engagement with members at all levels. This is a pivotal moment — one that demands principled leadership, courageous advocacy, and unwavering dedication to the academic community.

Once again, congratulations on your well-deserved election. May your tenure mark the dawn of renewed hope, integrity, and excellence in the Nigerian university system.

Yours in academic solidarity,

Dr Tukur Madu Yemi,
Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State.
Email: alhajitukur68@gmail.com

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