Date: September 30, 2025
The Nigerian university system is again on the brink of paralysis as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, threatening to embark on a nationwide strike if its lingering demands remain unmet .
The union's National Executive Council (NEC) reached this decision during a meeting held on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at the University of Abuja . In a statement personally signed by its National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, ASUU decried the government's "consistent refusal to heed its demands" and the continued neglect of the university system .
A Familiar Path to Industrial Action
Should the Federal Government fail to address the issues within the stipulated 14-day period, the union has outlined a phased approach to industrial action. ASUU will first embark on a two-week warning strike, to be followed by a "total and indefinite strike" if the government remains unresponsive .
This development threatens to disrupt academic activities across public universities in Nigeria, potentially affecting millions of students and their families. It echoes previous face-offs between the union and the government, which have often led to prolonged closures of tertiary institutions .
Prof. Piwuna lamented that the union had previously staged rallies across federal and state universities in August to draw attention to the plight of the system, but these efforts "yielded no meaningful response from the government" .
The Core Demands: What ASUU is Fighting For
ASUU's demands, which have been the subject of prolonged negotiation with the government, include seven key issues :
1. Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement: This is a long-standing demand for a review of the terms of engagement, including funding conditions for universities and staff welfare.
2. Sustainable funding of public universities: The union seeks a consistent and adequate financial commitment to revitalize the deteriorating infrastructure in tertiary institutions.
3. Payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears: This pertains to withheld portions of salaries owed to academic staff.
4. Settlement of promotion arrears: The union highlights delayed promotion arrears spanning over four years that have yet to be implemented .
5. Remittance of outstanding third-party deductions: These are deductions from staff salaries for cooperatives, unions, and other schemes that have not been remitted to the appropriate bodies .
6. Revitalisation of public universities: ASUU is pushing for the injection of funds to improve facilities and the overall learning environment in universities .
7. An end to the victimisation of ASUU members: The union specifically cited cases at the Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University (formerly KSU), and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) .
Table: ASUU's Seven-Point Demands at a Glance
Demand Number Key Issue Description
1 Renegotiation of 2009 Agreement Review of terms on funding and staff welfare
2 Sustainable University Funding Consistent financial commitment to institutions
3 Payment of Salary Arrears Clearing outstanding 25-35% salary arrears
4 Settlement of Promotion Arrears Implementation of delayed promotions (over 4 years)
5 Third-Party Deductions Remittance of owed cooperative, union dues
6 University Revitalisation Funds for infrastructure and learning facilities
7 End to Victimisation Address cases at LASU, Audu University, FUTO
Government's Response and the Committee in Focus
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, had previously set up a committee headed by the Permanent Secretary, Abel Enitan, to look into ASUU's proposals in a bid to ensure stability across universities . However, at the time of ASUU's latest announcement, the committee had yet to make its decisions or recommendations public .
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had earlier appealed for patience, stating that there was no need for the union to embark on a strike while talks were ongoing . He urged the university lecturers to await the outcome of the government committee .
This appeal appears to have been overshadowed by the union's frustration over the lack of tangible progress. Sources within the union indicated that the government had promised to resolve the disagreements within three weeks, a period that is set to expire this week .
A Call to Action and the Stakes for Nigeria
In its statement, ASUU urged "Nigerians, including religious and traditional leaders, parents, students, and other stakeholders, to prevail on the government to act swiftly to avert the looming strike" . The union maintains that the government possesses the "capacity and financial strength to fix Nigerian universities once and for all" .
The Benin Zone of ASUU had previously warned that Nigerian academics remain "the most marginalised group in the country, despite their critical role in national development" . The zone's coordinator, Prof. Monday Igbafen, cited the government's "insincerity and refusal to honour agreements" as the primary catalyst for the impending crisis .
A Nation Holds its Breath
With the 14-day ultimatum now in motion, the nation watches and waits to see whether the Federal Government will take decisive steps to address the union's grievances or if Nigerian public universities will be plunged into another cycle of disruption. The outcome of the next two weeks will be crucial in determining the stability of the academic calendar and the future of tertiary education in Africa's most populous nation.
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