ASUU Blackmailing Govt, Union Should Pay Striking Lecturers – President Buhari’s Aide, Onochie

Lauretta Onochie, the Special Assistant on Social Media to President Buhari has said that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is blackmailing the government.

To this end, Onochie urged the National Assembly to enact laws that would mandate ASUU to pay the salaries of striking members.

Onochie said it is unfair for ASUU executives to live off the union’s dues alone.

In a tweet, Onochie wrote: “ASUU has blackmailed every government in Nigeria. The National Assembly should enact a law that mandates ASUU to pay the salaries of striking members.

“The current situation where ASUU executives alone, live off Union Dues leaving members high and dry, is unfair to their members.”


ASUU has been on strike since February 2022 over the Federal Government’s inability to fulfil its 2009 agreements.

The lingering strike is also a result of the government’s refusal to accept the UTAS software developed by the union for payment of lecturers’ salaries.