Nigeria’s Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has elected a consultant psychiatrist at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Prof. Chris Piwuna, as its new president.

Piwuna, who doubles as the Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos, takes over from Victor Osodeke, a professor of soil science from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.

His election was made at the 23rd National Delegates Congress of the Union, which took place in Benin on Sunday.

Piwuna defeated Prof. Adamu Babayo from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, to emerge as the president of the union.

His emergence comes amid widespread speculations of industrial action following issues surrounding the sharing formula of the earned Academic Allowances recently released by the Federal Government of Nigeria, brain drain, among others.

Recall that on April 23, 2025, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved N50 billion to clear unpaid allowances of the varsity workers.