Nigeria’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has chosen a new leader. Prof. Chris Piwuna, a consultant psychiatrist at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, is now the president of the union.

Prof. Piwuna also works as the Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos. He takes over from Prof. Victor Osodeke, who is a soil science expert from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Umudike, Abia State.

The election took place during the union’s 23rd National Delegates Congress, which was held on Sunday in Benin City.

Prof. Piwuna emerged as the winner after defeating another candidate, Prof. Adamu Babayo, who teaches at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi.

His appointment comes at a time when many university staff and students are worried about the possibility of another strike. There are disagreements over how to share the recently released earned academic allowances. Other concerns like brain drain are also adding pressure.

Not long ago, on April 23, 2025, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved N50 billion to clear some of the unpaid allowances owed to university workers. Despite this, tension remains within the academic community.