The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially commenced a two-week warning strike today following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government. The announcement was made on Sunday by the National President of ASUU, Professor Chris Piwuna, during a press briefing at the University of Abuja.
This renewed industrial action marks yet another chapter in the protracted standoff between ASUU and the Federal Government over unresolved issues related to university funding, staff welfare, and implementation of long-standing agreements.
Government talks collapse
Just days earlier, hopes were high that negotiations might avert the strike. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had revealed that discussions with ASUU were in their final stages, with some financial commitments already made. These included the release of ₦50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances and ₦150 billion captured in the 2025 budget for university needs assessment.
However, Professor Piwuna dismissed the government’s proposal as inadequate and inconsistent with the spirit of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement. He confirmed that the union rejected the offer, describing the documents presented as “provocative” and incapable of addressing the long-standing concerns within the university system.
“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,” Piwuna declared.
“Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight on Monday, 13th October 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting,” he added.
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Key demands
ASUU’s core demands include:
- Finalisation of the renegotiated 2009 agreement
- Release of withheld 3.5 months’ salaries
- Sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities
- Cessation of lecturer victimisation in several institutions
- Payment of outstanding salary arrears (25–35%)
- Settlement of promotion arrears exceeding four years
- Release of third-party deductions (such as cooperative and union dues)
Efforts by the government to engage the union before the deadline reportedly failed. A high-ranking official within the Ministry of Education alleged that ASUU leadership declined phone calls from the minister and refused the government’s latest proposal.
“The minister made efforts to reach out to the leadership of the union, but they refused to pick up calls,” the source said.
Government responds: “No work, no pay”
In response to ASUU’s strike declaration, the Federal Government warned that it may invoke the no-work-no-pay policy, an existing labour law in Nigeria.
A joint statement issued late Sunday by the Minister of Education, Dr Alausa, and Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, urged ASUU to reconsider its action and return to the negotiation table.
“The Federal Government has made a comprehensive offer to the union addressing key concerns such as working conditions, institutional governance, and staff welfare,” read the statement, signed by ministry spokesperson Folasade Boriowo.
The ministers insisted that dialogue remains the best route to resolving the crisis and stated that the government would not hesitate to enforce the no-work-no-pay policy if academic activities are disrupted.
NANS calls for urgent resolution
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed grave concern over the impact of the strike on students, calling on both ASUU and the government to act responsibly.
Assistant General Secretary of NANS, Adejuwon Emmanuel, in an interview with The PUNCH, revealed that the association’s president, Olushola Oladoja, had initiated mediation efforts to bridge the gap between both parties.
“Nigerian students have endured too many disruptions. Another strike will only worsen their hardship,” Emmanuel said.
While acknowledging the legitimacy of ASUU’s grievances, NANS urged the union to explore non-disruptive means of engagement and demanded the government show sincerity and urgency in addressing the issues.
“The future of Nigerian students must not be sacrificed on the altar of bureaucracy and broken promises,” Emmanuel added.
Polytechnics suspend planned strike
In a related development, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has opted to suspend its planned industrial action, granting the Federal Government a six-week window to meet its demands.
The decision followed what ASUP described as “measurable progress” made by the government in addressing issues such as the release of Peculiar Academic Allowance circulars, revival of the Needs Assessment intervention, and re-engagement with the Polytechnics Implementation Monitoring Committee.
Looking Ahead
ASUU has a long history of industrial action over similar concerns, often centred around inadequate funding, delayed salaries, and failure to honour agreements. These repeated disruptions have significantly affected Nigeria’s higher education system, extending academic calendars and eroding trust between stakeholders.
The current warning strike is set to last until Monday, 27 October 2025, unless a resolution is reached sooner. Stakeholders across the country – from students and parents to education advocates – are watching closely, hoping for meaningful dialogue that will end the cycle of unrest in Nigeria’s public universities.
