The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday commenced a two-week warning strike after the ultimatum issued to the Nigerian Government elapsed on Sunday.
The warning strike is in response to the declaration by the National President of the union, Prof. Chris Piwuna, at a press briefing at the University of Abuja on Sunday.
The renewed standoff between ASUU and the government comes amid ongoing negotiations aimed at averting another round of industrial unrest in public universities.
It will be recalled that last Wednesday, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed in Abuja that the government had entered the final phase of talks with ASUU and other unions to resolve lingering disputes over welfare, funding, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
The minister stated that the Nigerian government had already made significant progress with the release of N50bn for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances, while another N150bn had been captured in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, to be disbursed in three tranches.
But ASUU rejected the minister’s intervention last Friday and its President declared: “Compatriots of the press, it goes without saying that there is nothing sufficient on the ground to stop the implementation of the ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike at the expiry of the 14-day notice given on the 28th September 2025.
“Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight on Monday, the 13th October, 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting.’’
The union is demanding among others, the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, release of the withheld three and a half months’ salaries, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of public universities and cessation of the victimisation of lecturers in Lagos State University, Kogi State University, now Prince Abubakar Audu University and Federal University of Technology, Owerri, payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears, payment of promotion arrears for over four years and release of withheld third-party deductions( cooperative contributions, union check-off dues).
