The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has warned the Federal Government of possible industrial action over its failure to conclude a collective bargaining agreement with the union and settle outstanding salaries and other entitlements owed to university lecturers.
The union demanded the immediate payment of three and a half months’ withheld salaries, promotion arrears and outstanding benefits arising from the 25 and 35 per cent wage awards. It said its preference for dialogue should not be mistaken for weakness or unwillingness to defend its members.
CONUA National President Niyi Sunmonu issued the warning on Saturday, October 24, after the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Abuja. Members reviewed the prolonged negotiations with the government and unresolved welfare issues affecting university academics.
The union expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the proposed Federal Government of Nigeria–CONUA Agreement, whose latest draft was produced in September 2026. It accused the authorities of failing to demonstrate sufficient commitment to finalising the agreement.
“The welfare and legitimate entitlements of academics are obligations to be honoured, not favours to be granted,” the union said.
It maintained that recognising CONUA as a trade union must lead to meaningful collective bargaining and a binding agreement that guarantees its members’ rights and welfare.
Sunmonu said the union had consistently preferred peaceful engagement but warned that continued delays could undermine industrial harmony in the university system.
“Our commitment to dialogue must not be mistaken for a lack of resolve,” the union said.
He urged the Federal Ministries of Education and Labour and Employment, along with other relevant negotiating authorities, to conclude the agreement without further delay.
The union said university lecturers should not continue to face financial uncertainty because of unpaid salaries, promotion arrears and the inconsistent implementation of approved benefits.
It demanded the immediate settlement of all verified outstanding entitlements, including arrears from the 25 and 35 per cent wage awards. It also urged government authorities and university managements to keep transparent payment records and communicate clearly with affected staff.
CONUA said the failure to meet approved financial obligations had compounded academics’ economic difficulties and weakened confidence in the collective bargaining process.
The union warned that continued delays could compel it to explore lawful industrial options to protect its members. However, it said its immediate priority remained concluding negotiations and resolving the dispute peacefully.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) also backed CONUA’s demands, calling on the Federal Government to conclude and sign the proposed agreement without further delay.
TUC Secretary General Nuhu Toro expressed solidarity with the union, saying collective bargaining agreements were serious commitments that must be honoured—not treated as political favours or administrative conveniences.
He warned that the wider labour movement would not tolerate unnecessary delays by government agencies and university authorities responsible for concluding the agreement.
Beyond the salary dispute, CONUA raised concerns about what it described as the exclusion of its members from important university education programmes and consultative structures.
It called for fair representation in initiatives associated with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Needs Assessment intervention programme, arguing that excluding recognised academic stakeholders undermined institutional fairness, transparency and accountability.
The union also called for increased public investment in university education, warning that inadequate funding and deteriorating infrastructure continued to undermine teaching, learning and research.
It identified reliable electricity and internet connectivity, functional laboratories, modern teaching facilities and faster digital transformation as essential to improving the quality of university education.
CONUA also condemned reported cases of institutions temporarily hiring or renting academic staff and equipment to meet accreditation requirements.
It warned that such practices could give a misleading impression of institutional capacity while concealing deficiencies in staffing, facilities and equipment.
The union urged university managements and regulatory authorities to ensure accreditation exercises reflected institutions’ actual and sustainable capacity to deliver approved academic programmes.
On national issues, CONUA called for peaceful, free and credible elections, urging political parties and candidates to prioritise security, electricity, education, employment and economic development in their campaigns.
It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct an impartial electoral process that reflects voters’ wishes.
Expressing concern about insecurity, the union called on governments and security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve operational coordination and respond more effectively to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence.
CONUA reiterated its commitment to defending university academics’ welfare and professional interests through collective bargaining and lawful means. It warned that industrial harmony could be sustained only if the government honoured its obligations and treated recognised unions fairly.
