The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is actively mobilizing its members for a potential nationwide strike due to the Federal Government of Nigeria's failure to address longstanding demands.
Here are the key details and the latest updates on the looming industrial action:
14-Day Ultimatum: ASUU, following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on September 28, 2025, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address its demands.
Next Line of Action: The union resolved that if the government fails to address the issues by the expiration of the ultimatum, ASUU will first embark on a two-week warning strike, which would then be followed by a total and indefinite strike.
Mobilization: The union's president, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, has signed a "Strike Bulletin No. 1" and directed all branches to intensify mobilization, urging members to attend congress meetings and prepare for the imminent action.
Core Reasons for the Strike
The union's decision is in response to the government's alleged "consistent neglect" of public universities and the welfare of academic staff. The core demands include:
1.Renegotiation and Implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement: The union is pushing for the signing and implementation of the renegotiated agreement document, which has been pending for several years.
2. Revitalisation of Public Universities: The demand for adequate and sustainable funding for public universities to address their decay.
3.Payment of Outstanding Salary Arrears: This includes:
1. Payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears.
2. Settlement of outstanding promotion arrears spanning over four years.
3. Release of the remaining three and a half months' salaries withheld in 2022 following the "No Work, No Pay" policy.
4. Welfare and Victimization:
Resolution of issues regarding delayed salary payments, which has been a recurring problem since the universities moved off the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS).
5. An end to the alleged victimization of members at specific universities (e.g., LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO).
Previous Actions
The current mobilization follows a series of actions by the union to pressure the government:
Nationwide Rallies: In August 2025, ASUU staged nationwide rallies and protests across federal and state universities to draw attention to the neglected demands.
"No Pay, No Work" Policy: Earlier in July 2025, some ASUU branches declared a partial strike, enforcing a "No Pay, No Work" policy over the delayed payment of their June salaries.