ASUU Decries Rivers Universities’ Poor Funding, Demands 2025 Agreement Implementation

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PORT HARCOURT – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Rivers State University (RSU) and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) chapters, have raised concerns over the persistent underfunding of state-owned universities in Rivers State, urging the state government to immediately domesticate and implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement.

The union made the call on Thursday during a joint press conference addressed by the Chairperson of ASUU, Rivers State University, Comrade Emmanuel O. Davies, and his counterpart at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Comrade Obinna P. Ikechi.

They warned that inadequate funding, poor welfare packages and delays in implementing nationally agreed conditions of service were threatening academic excellence, staff morale and institutional development in the state’s public universities.

ASUU emphasised that although the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement was negotiated with the Federal Government, its provisions represent national standards that should be adopted by state-owned universities to improve teaching, research, university governance and staff welfare.

It acknowledged the Rivers State Government for implementing the consequential adjustments arising from the new national minimum wage and the 25 per cent salary differential, but insisted that the gains were insufficient in view of the prevailing economic realities facing university workers.

The union however urged the government to immediately commence the domestication and implementation of the 2025 agreement for academic staff of Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, saying the move would promote industrial harmony and improve the quality of tertiary education in the state.

“The implementation of the Agreement should not be viewed as exclusive to Federal Universities alone; rather, it embodies nationally accepted standards for the improvement of university education, staff welfare, governance and institutional stability across all public universities in Nigeria.

“We therefore call on the Rivers State Government to urgently implement the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement for Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in the interest of industrial harmony, quality education delivery and the preservation of academic standards,” the union stated.

ASUU noted that several state-owned universities across the country, including Sa’adu Zungur University, Ekiti State University, Osun State University, Benue State University, Olabisi Onabanjo University and Sokoto State University, had already commenced implementation of key aspects of the agreement, urging Rivers State not to be left behind.

Beyond the implementation of the agreement, the union reiterated that the chronic underfunding of Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, adversely affects teaching, research, innovation, accreditation and infrastructure development.

ASUU also lamented that the erratic electricity supply in both institutions, continues to disrupt academic activities, laboratory services, ICT operations and research, urging the government to provide sustainable alternative power sources.

“The epileptic power supply currently affecting our Universities has severely disrupted academic activities, research work, ICT operations, and laboratory services.

“We therefore demand urgent provision of sustainable alternative power supply systems for both Universities.”

The union further urged the government to direct the governing councils of both universities to implement the non-financial components of the agreement, including provisions relating to university autonomy, academic freedom, improved governance structures, better conditions of service and due process in university administration.

It warned that continued delay could undermine academic stability and the future of students in the state, reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and peaceful engagement in the interest of justice, educational advancement and sustainable development.