The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja chapter, has joined the nationwide protest demanding payment of withheld salaries, arrears of wage awards, and implementation of a renegotiated agreement.

Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, Chairman of UniAbuja ASUU, told journalists on Tuesday in Abuja that the government had failed to address critical issues affecting the university system in spite of the union’s patience.

He said the protest aimed to draw attention to the growing hardship faced by academic staff across the country.

According to him, lecturers have remained on the same salary structure since 2009, in spite of government promises of periodic reviews every three years.

Ugoh recalled that the 2009 agreement, which was due for renegotiation in 2012, was only revisited in 2017 and concluded in February 2025 under the Yayale Ahmed-led committee.

He added that, since the report’s submission, there had been no further communication from the government regarding its implementation.

“Lecturers are finding it increasingly difficult to cope, with several deaths among academic staff linked to stress and poor welfare ”he said.

According to him, the government currently owes lecturers three and a half months’ salaries and one year’s arrears of the 25 and 35 per cent wage awards.

He added that arrears of staff promotion benefits had also not been paid.