The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially commenced a two-week warning strike today, Monday, October 13, 2025, after its 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government expired without resolution.
The union’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the decision on Sunday during a press briefing at the University of Abuja, accusing the government of failing to meet its longstanding demands despite earlier assurances.
“ASUU branches are directed to withdraw services from midnight. The strike will be total and comprehensive,” Piwuna declared, noting that there was “nothing sufficient on ground” to warrant a suspension of the planned action.
The strike comes despite last-minute efforts by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who said the government had reached the final stage of negotiations and had already released N50bn for earned academic allowances, with another N150bn earmarked in the 2025 budget for public university needs.
However, ASUU rejected the new proposal presented during Friday’s meeting with the government, stating it fell far short of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement and failed to address key issues.
Among ASUU’s major demands are:
- Release of withheld 3.5 months’ salaries
- Full implementation of the 2009 renegotiated agreement
- Sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities
- End to victimisation of lecturers in LASU, Kogi State University, and FUTO
- Payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears and promotion backlogs
- Release of withheld third-party deductions (cooperative and union dues)
Government officials expressed disappointment over ASUU’s decision to go ahead with the strike. A source within the Ministry of Education alleged that efforts were made to reach ASUU leadership by phone over the weekend but were ignored.
In a joint statement Sunday night, Dr. Alausa and Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, warned that the Federal Government would enforce the “no work, no pay” policy in response to the strike.
They emphasised that dialogue remains the most effective way to resolve the impasse and urged ASUU to reconsider its stance. “The government has made a comprehensive offer addressing staff welfare and institutional governance. We remain open to dialogue,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to act urgently. Speaking with reporters in Abuja, Adejuwon Emmanuel, Assistant General Secretary of NANS, warned that students “will not sit idly by if their education is once again disrupted.”
While supporting ASUU’s right to demand better welfare, NANS urged the union to consider alternative engagement methods that won’t further destabilise the academic calendar.
In a related development, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has shelved its proposed strike for now but has given the Federal Government a six-week deadline to meet its own demands. The union acknowledged “measurable progress” in recent talks, including the release of circulars on Peculiar Academic Allowance and engagement with polytechnic sector reforms.
As ASUU’s strike takes effect, tension continues to rise across public universities nationwide, with lectures suspended and academic activities grinding to a halt. Students and parents are once again left in limbo, hoping for a speedy resolution.
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