Benin City — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has elected Prof. Chris Piwuna, a consultant psychiatrist and Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos, as its new national president.
Piwuna’s election was announced at the Union’s 23rd National Delegates Congress held in Benin City on Sunday. He succeeds Prof. Victor Osodeke, a soil science expert from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.
The new ASUU president emerged victorious in a closely contested election, defeating Prof. Adamu Babayo of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
Piwuna’s emergence comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s university system, with signs of looming industrial action over unresolved issues, particularly the distribution of recently released earned academic allowances, and broader concerns such as funding gaps and the ongoing brain drain in the sector.
Tensions within the union have escalated in recent weeks over what members describe as a non-transparent sharing formula for the N50 billion allowance recently approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for university workers.
On April 23, 2025, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, announced the presidential approval, but ASUU leadership has since raised questions about the implementation framework and the sustainability of interventions aimed at improving academic staff welfare.
Prof. Piwuna, known for his outspoken stance on university autonomy and academic integrity, is expected to steer the union through what could be a turbulent phase in its engagement with the Federal Government.
ASUU has yet to make an official announcement regarding strike action, but sources within the union indicate that consultations are ongoing and decisions will be guided by the outcome of forthcoming meetings.
