The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government of Nigeria, warning of an impending nationwide industrial action if longstanding issues affecting the nation’s public universities are not addressed.
The announcement followed an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of ASUU held on Sunday at the University of Abuja.
“If at the end of the 14-day ultimatum, the Federal Government fails to address these issues, the union may have no option but to first embark on a two-week warning strike and thereafter, a total and indefinite strike,” ASUU National President Chris Piwuna said in a statement.
Key Demands by ASUU
ASUU listed several unresolved issues that prompted the ultimatum, including the re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement, sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities, outstanding salary arrears of 25% to 35%, unpaid promotion arrears spanning over four years, unremitted third-party deductions and the alleged victimisation of union members at LASU, FUTO, and Prince Abubakar Audu University (KSU)
The union emphasized that both federal and state governments have failed to prioritize university education, accusing them of displaying “a strong habit of paying little or no attention to the education sector.”
Failed Rallies and Broken Promises
According to Piwuna, ASUU members in both federal and state institutions had, in August 2025, organized peaceful rallies and media engagements to press for action from the government.
“Nothing came out of all these rallies and pleas,” ASUU said. “Lecturers have endured over two years of broken promises and delay tactics by the government.”
The union recalled that it had repeatedly warned of a possible nationwide strike due to the government’s failure to honour past agreements and implement necessary reforms in the education sector.
ASUU Calls on Stakeholders for Intervention
ASUU urged parents, students, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to intervene and demand urgent government action.
“ASUU is confident that the Nigerian leadership has the capacity and the financial strength to fix Nigerian universities once and for all,” the statement read. “The time to act is now.”
