ASUU Vows to Block FG’s Plan for UK University Campus in Lagos; Issues 4-Day Ultimatum Over Unpaid New Salary Structure

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared “total war” on the Federal Government’s latest plan to bring a branch of the UK’s Coventry University to Nigeria. Speaking at a public lecture in Bauchi on Thursday, March 26, 2026, ASUU President Prof. Chris Piwuna warned that the union would deploy every legitimate means to resist what he termed a “hostile takeover” of the Nigerian educational space.

The controversy “flipped the script” on President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to the United Kingdom, where the Transnational Education (TNE) agreement was signed. While the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, hailed the move as a “Solution” to reduce the cost of foreign degrees and curb brain drain, ASUU argues that the plan is a slap in the face to local lecturers. “They are denying our students visas to study in London, but they want to come here and harvest our naira to fix their own budget deficits,” Piwuna stated, noting that Coventry University is currently battling significant financial losses in the UK.

Adding fuel to the fire, ASUU has linked this resistance to its ongoing struggle for better welfare. The union issued a final four-day warning for the government to commence payments under the new salary structure that was supposed to take effect in January 2026. Prof. Piwuna noted that while some state-owned institutions, like Sa’adu Zungur University, have started implementation, the Federal Government remains in “default mode.”

As the deadline for the salary ultimatum approaches this week, the atmosphere in Nigeria’s public universities has turned tense once again. ASUU maintains that the government’s focus should be on revitalizing existing public institutions rather than opening the door for foreign “degree mills.” With the proposed Lagos campus scheduled to begin admissions by late 2026, the stage is set for a massive legal and industrial showdown between the ivory towers and the presidency.