By our Reporter
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised concerns over the alleged conversion of non-academic staff to academic positions in Nigerian public universities, warning that such practices could undermine the integrity and standards of the university system.
The union, in a recent press statement signed by ProfessorChristopher Pinuwa, said it was concerned about the growing practice of Registrars, Bursars and other senior administrative and technical staff being converted to academic positions without following due process.
According to ASUU, some non-teaching staff have sought academic status on the basis of undergoing postgraduate programmes, while there have also been cases of Deputy Registrars with PhDs being converted to Lecturer I at entry, with personalised salaries.
The union further alleged that some Registrars had been converted to senior academic positions, with institutions sometimes overlooking questionable publications and records of proxy teaching.
ASUU said non-teaching staff who wish to move into the academic cadre should normally participate in properly advertised selection interviews alongside external candidates, where the university’s laws permit such conversion.
It stressed that academic qualifications, although a prerequisite for recruitment into the academic profession, are not sufficient on their own, arguing that relevant authorities must protect the professional and ethical standards of academia.
The union called on Vice-Chancellors and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to take decisive steps to address what it described as the anomaly.
ASUU also criticised the policy of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) of categorising universities as “tenable” and “non-tenable” in selecting beneficiaries for local postgraduate studies under its Academic Staff Training and Development (AST&D) programme.
The union argued that TETFund’s mandate is to manage, disburse and monitor the two per cent education tax collected from registered companies for the rehabilitation, restoration and consolidation of public tertiary educational institutions across Nigeria.
ASUU maintained that TETFund should not assume a regulatory role by determining which universities Nigerians should attend or which institutions they should not attend.
It warned that continued implementation of the policy could overcrowd universities designated as preferred institutions because of an influx of candidates, while creating a shortage of experts in other universities and academic programmes.
The union also objected to the labelling of some Nigerian public universities as “non-tenable,” arguing that the classification could reduce enrolment, demoralise senior academics and discourage experts from working in such institutions.
ASUU questioned why first- to third-generation public universities could not instead be upgraded to the required standards, stressing that TETFund resources should not be deployed to institutionalise what it described as discriminatory practices.
The union said it would continue to oppose any policy that makes TETFund vulnerable to personal or group interests.
The union also raised concerns over the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria-ASUU Agreement in state universities.
It listed several institutions where the implementation of the agreement was said to be under review or where members had reportedly faced harassment by university authorities, including Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Imo State University (IMSU), Abia State University (ABSU), Northwest University Kano (NWUK), Niger Delta University (NDU), University of Africa, Toru-Orua (UAT), Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), and Taraba State University (TSU).
ASUU acknowledged efforts by the Chairman of the Implementation Monitoring Committee, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, to encourage state university visitors to respect the spirit and provisions of the 2025 agreement.
However, it expressed concern over what it described as delays by the Federal Ministry of Finance in the release of funds and alleged attempts by some state university owners and administrators to intimidate union leaders.
The union said recent harassment of its members by Vice-Chancellors in some universities would not be tolerated by its National Executive Council (NEC).
ASUU further alleged delays in the payment of promotion arrears and monthly salaries, as well as the withholding of pension remittances to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).
It warned that it would continue to defend the full implementation of the agreement in the interest of its members and the Nigerian public university system.
The union said its NEC would convene an emergency meeting in the coming weeks to review the state of implementation of the 2025 agreement and determine the way forward.
