Professor Chris Piwuna has been elected as the new President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), succeeding Professor Victor Osodeke.
Piwuna, a consultant psychiatrist at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos, emerged victorious during the union’s 23rd National Delegates Congress held Sunday in Benin City.
He clinched the position after a keenly contested election against Professor Adamu Babayo of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
A seasoned academic and unionist, Professor Piwuna steps into leadership at a challenging time for Nigeria’s higher education sector. His tenure begins amid rising concerns over unresolved issues such as the distribution of the recently disbursed Earned Academic Allowances by the Federal Government, the ongoing problem of brain drain, and other persistent structural deficiencies in the university system.
Observers say his leadership will be critical in determining whether the union proceeds with any planned industrial action in the coming months.
