The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has proclaimed September 10, 2024, as Victimized Lecturers’ Day. This occasion aims to enhance global awareness regarding the persistent managerial crises and difficulties encountered by lecturers in Nigeria's public universities.

During a press conference at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, ASUU’s National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, made this declaration. He spoke to the media about the results of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that took place in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Professor Osodeke, along with ASUU representatives, underscored the challenges faced by numerous lecturers in Nigerian universities who have suffered from unfair treatment, such as job termination, salary delays, and denial of promotions.

Such measures are frequently implemented by university administrations in retaliation for lecturers’ attempts to protect the interests of academic staff.

According to Osodeke, the universities in question include Kogi State University, Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Lagos State University (LASU), Ambrose Alli University, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Igbariam, among others.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed its dissatisfaction regarding the ongoing victimization of its members at FUTO, Owerri, following their refusal to endorse the awarding of a Professorship title to former Minister of Communication and Digital Technology, Isah Pantami. ASUU has called for an end to this mistreatment by the management of FUTO.

Furthermore, the union reiterated its demand for the Federal Government to review and finalize the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, address outstanding earned academic allowances, release withheld salaries, resolve promotion arrears, and cease third-party deductions from ASUU members' funds.

Additional concerns raised by the lecturers include the cessation of unlawful retirements, the excessive establishment of public universities, and the violation of university regulations.

They also advocated for the exclusion of universities from the Single Treasury Account (TSA) and the new Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

They highlighted that many experienced scholars have been leaving for foreign countries, while the influx of foreign lecturers and students to Nigeria has significantly declined due to the poor state of education in the nation.

Furthermore, ASUU emphasized that 95% of university students are enrolled in public institutions, with only 5% attending private universities in Nigeria, and pointed out that public universities continue to receive funding based on the pre-2009 agreement scale.

Consequently, ASUU pledged to make decisive actions once the 21-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government to resolve all outstanding issues expires.