ASUU Disputes ₦50 Billion Payment Claim by Tinubu Government

ASUU ₦50 billion earned allowances. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has strongly countered claims by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that ₦50 billion has been released to settle long-standing earned academic allowances owed to lecturers in federal universities.

In an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters, ASUU National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, stated clearly that the union has not received any verifiable evidence of such a payment. According to him, ASUU will not be swayed by verbal declarations from the federal government.

“You said that the government released ₦50 billion to ASUU, but why are you bringing other staff? Every union negotiates for its members. It is not a collective,” Osodeke queried.

ASUU: “We’ve Not Seen Any Evidence”

Professor Osodeke went on to say that the union had only been verbally informed, and that there has been no official documentation or financial transaction to support the claim.

“We are aware of it, but until we see evidence, we won’t believe them. We only agreed verbally. We have not seen the money,” he added.

Government’s Announcement of ₦50 Billion for Earned Allowances

According to the federal government, the ₦50 billion is meant to settle earned allowances for both academic and non-academic staff across federal universities.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, in a press release titled:

“FG Releases ₦50bn Earned Allowances to Varsity Unions, Tinubu Reaffirms Education Priority,”

The release, issued by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, described the move as part of Tinubu’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s education sector.

Tinubu Administration’s Position

The Ministry emphasized that this financial intervention is more than just a monetary transaction. It was described as:

• A reaffirmation of President Tinubu’s belief in the value of education
• A strategic step toward building a knowledge-driven economy
• A reflection of the government’s commitment to staff welfare and education reform

The statement also credited the government-union relationship for what is reportedly one of the longest uninterrupted academic sessions in recent years—a major milestone in Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape.

What This Means for Nigerian Students and Universities

At StartSmart Nigeria, we believe this unfolding situation highlights a critical gap in transparency and trust between the federal government and educational stakeholders.

If ASUU’s claims are true, the credibility of the government’s statements comes into question. If the funds were indeed released, where is the breakdown of disbursement? If not, students and staff are once again caught in the middle of political posturing.

Conclusion

The ASUU vs. Federal Government situation over the ₦50 billion earned allowances is far from over. As students, parents, and stakeholders await clarity, one thing remains certain—transparent communication and real action are key to rebuilding trust in Nigeria’s education sector.

StartSmart Nigeria will continue to track developments and provide updates on this critical issue affecting universities nationwide.