The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has identified Nigeria’s political class as the country’s most dangerous security threat, warning that escalating political violence could trigger a wider national crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The union issued the ASUU security warning after its National Executive Council reviewed political, economic, security and education developments at a meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026. In a statement signed by ASUU National President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, the union expressed concern over increasing political killings, thuggery and pre-election violence across the country.
ASUU said the political environment was being poisoned by what it described as “thuggery, brigandage and political killings fueled by entrenched politics of bitterness and winner-takes-all.” The union stated that the development was compounding Nigeria’s existing security challenges, including threats affecting educational and religious institutions.
“As things stand now, the political class are the most significant and dangerous threat to Nigeria’s security. They are the ‘tribe’ that threatens us all.”
ASUU warned that continued escalation could produce consequences that would affect Nigerians regardless of political affiliation.
“The simmering tension may soon erupt like a volcano in the face of everybody.”
The union also linked Nigeria’s governance challenges to corruption, questionable contract awards, procurement violations and inadequate investment in critical infrastructure.
Beyond its ASUU security warning, the union raised serious concerns about the continued deterioration of Nigeria’s university system. It expressed dissatisfaction over the outstanding three-and-a-half months’ salaries owed lecturers following the 2022 nationwide strike. According to the union, President Bola Tinubu’s administration paid four of the seven-and-a-half months withheld by the previous government, leaving a balance that remains unpaid.
ASUU said lecturers had made considerable efforts to recover lost academic time after the strike and demanded payment of the outstanding salaries. The union also demanded payment of the 25/35 per cent wage award and outstanding promotion arrears owed its members. It said failure to address the issues was worsening frustration among academic staff.
The union further accused the Federal Government of implementing the December 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement inconsistently. According to ASUU, several federal universities, including universities of agriculture, were struggling to implement the financial aspects of the agreement because of inadequate funding.
The situation was reportedly more difficult across state-owned institutions, where the union claimed that only a small number of governors had openly supported the revised salary package for academics. Consequently, ASUU’s NEC authorised affected branches to begin processes required for varying degrees of industrial action.
The institutions listed include Nasarawa State University, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Gombe State University, Plateau State University, Bokkos, and Adekunle Ajasin University. Others include Ambrose Alli University, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Abia State University, Kaduna State University and Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology.
ASUU also challenged claims concerning solar power installations in Nigerian universities. The union questioned the Rural Electrification Agency’s claim that solar farms had been installed and connected to 15 universities.
It said reports from its branches indicated that some of the facilities were either not functioning or had experienced repeated breakdowns. ASUU called for greater transparency and accountability, arguing that citizens would struggle to trust institutions whose promises were repeatedly made but poorly implemented.
The union also criticised the declining real value of education funding, warning that inadequate allocations were weakening infrastructure, research and teaching. It called for greater investment in research, technical education, agriculture, innovation and skills development. ASUU further urged governments to strengthen agricultural and industrial production, improve social protection and pursue development policies centred on citizens.
The union called for the recovery of stolen public resources, the closure of financial leakages and restraint in unnecessary borrowing. As Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, ASUU said governments at all levels must place citizens at the centre of policy decisions.
It also urged authorities to urgently resolve outstanding welfare issues and fully implement the December 2025 agreement to prevent further disruption across the university system. The union warned that failure to address the issues could deepen industrial unrest in Nigerian universities while worsening broader public dissatisfaction.
