By Ani Ruth, Ezesinachi Chikezie and Azubuike Kosisochukwu

Enugu – The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) celebrated “ASUU Day 2025” on Thursday, 27 November at the Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Auditorium with a renewed call for members welfare

Acting Chairperson of the Academic Staff ASUU-ESUT Branch, Comrade Andrew Apeh reaffirmed the union’s commitment to building a better nation through quality teaching, research and community service.

Apeh who made this known while speaking on Thursday at the 2025 ASUU Day celebration held at Governor Peter Mbah Auditorium, ESUT main campus, Agbani, stated, “As academic staff, we must continue to strive for excellence, inspiring our students and contributing to the growth of our nation.”

The Union Leader said, “As a union, we must remain united and focused on our welfare purposes. Our welfare is our fundamental rights, and it’s time we demand it be addressed without politicization!
.
Quoting Late South Africa President, Nelson Mandela who said, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail”, Apeh charged his members to rise for their rights.

“Our spirit of unionism must be re-energized for good. No one can offer what they don’t have. We must be the change we seek. Let us unite and demand better welfare, better working conditions and a better future for ourselves and families!
.
According to him, the theme of the 2025 ASUU Day entitled: “Empowering Academics and Enhancing Wellness”, is apt and timely, pointing out, “Our welfare is not a privilege, it’s a right!

“We deserve a salary review aligned with the national benchmark, and the 25% and 35% wage award increments implemented in other state and federal universities.

“He lamented, “As of today, it pains greatly to see our counterparts in other state and federal universities receiving double of our salary for almost a year now. And even waiting for a better review in few days to come, and here in ESUT, we are battling with survival because of our paltry salary which no longer meets the reality of the economic situation of our moment.

“It is time we caught up! Our Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) is another pressing issue. Since 2008, it’s been pending and we can’t wait any longer. We urge our government and ESUT Management to address this as an urgent call, special plights and mainstream our EAA.

Also speaking, Comrade Zubairu Abdulmumini Loko, Chairperson ASUU Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), noted that the uncompromising spirit of solidarity has been the spirit that has kept ASUU alive, unbroken, unbent, and unbowed for decades in this country.

“Academics in Nigeria live between intellectual excellence and national frustration. We teach like philosophers but are paid like apprentices. We produce research that transforms nations, yet struggle with facilities that belong in museums.

On empowering Academics, he said, “The Struggle Continues. Empowerment is not a slogan – it is a struggle. It is what ASUU has defended for over forty years, often at great personal cost.
.
According to him, “Empowerment means: Salaries that can survive the month, not disappear like a missed call. Research grants that can actually fund research, not only printing of proposals Infrastructure that respects our academic dignity. Autonomy that protects our universities from political interference and administrative overreach.
.
“Let me repeat: No nation jokes with its academics and expects serious development. If Nigerian academics are empowered today, Nigeria will be transformed tomorrow. But if academics remain overworked, undervalued, overstressed, and underpaid, then we are simply fueling a crisis while hoping for a miracle.”

Speaking on enhancement of wellness, Loko noted that even lions rest, stressing, “Wellness is not weakness; it is strategy.
Comrades, you cannot lead a revolution with blood pressure higher than school fees. You cannot fight for autonomy when your backbone is begging for physiotherapy. You cannot supervise students effectively when your eyesight is battling with stress-induced blur.
..
Loko, therefore, charged his colleagues at ESUT to remain united, because disunity is the weapon of oppressors.
.
“Mentor younger academics, because the struggle is generational Strengthen our branches, because strong branches build a powerful union. Guard our wellness, because a weak academic cannot defend a strong cause. Speak boldly, because silence is complicity. If we do these, the system will hear us — and if the system refuses to hear, we shall speak louder.”
.
Earlier, Comrade Ofukwu Raphael Agbo, National Resource Person, chastised Nigeria university professors for being docile in the face of oppression and social injustice.
.
Agbo who categorized professors into three, noted that many of them cannot speak to power because of politicization and fear of unknown.
.
He noted, “ASUU remains the last moral firewall protecting Nigerian universities from total collapse. Someone must speak truth to power, even when power pretends to be deaf.”
.
Some of the activities held at the event were medical check up, health speeches and panel discussion followed by question and answer session.
.
The high points of the event were the recognition and reward of retired and deceased members as well as celebration of newly promoted ASUU Professors. There were also recognition of Ex-ASUU Leaders and former ASUU-ESUT leaders. Nineteen Professors were promoted in 2023 while 15 were promoted in 2024, respectively.

The ASUU, ESUT branch also took a significant step in fulfilling its commitment to its members by paying out membership retirement and death benefits.

During the event, ASUU ESUT presented a cheque of ₦400,000 each to its retired members and the families of deceased members, bringing relief to those who have dedicated their lives to the institution.

The gesture underscored the union’s dedication to the welfare of its members, ensuring that their hard work and service are recognized and rewarded. The payment is part of the union’s membership welfare package, aimed at supporting members in their time of need