The Academic Staff Union of Universities b has announced its readiness to embark on a two-week warning strike starting Monday, October 14, 2025, after the Federal Government failed to meet its long-standing demands and ignored its two-week ultimatum.
According to reports, the decision to proceed with the industrial action was reached following a series of consultations between the national leadership of ASUU and its various chapters across the country. The union said the strike became inevitable after what it described as “the government’s continued insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian lecturers and the decaying state of public universities.”
A statement issued by the union noted that despite repeated appeals and negotiations, the government has failed to fulfill key components of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, including improved funding for universities, payment of earned academic allowances, revitalization funds, and the renegotiation of salary structures to reflect current economic realities.
“We have waited patiently, but nothing tangible has been done. The education sector continues to suffer while our members are subjected to poor working conditions. Enough is enough,” a senior ASUU official stated.
Background of the dispute and failed negotiations
ASUU’s renewed face-off with the Federal Government traces back to the delayed implementation of key resolutions from the last major strike, which lasted for eight months in 2022. Despite the signing of a Memorandum of Action at the time, the union alleges that the government has failed to honor several promises related to university autonomy, salary review, and welfare improvements.
The latest ultimatum, which expired on Sunday night, October 13, reportedly urged the Federal Government to address issues such as the release of withheld salaries during previous strikes, university revitalization funding, and the replacement of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
As the deadline elapsed, there was no official statement from the government, fueling tension across university campuses as ASUU chapters began mobilizing for a full shutdown of academic activities nationwide.
Government’s reaction and funding promises
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, speaking during a press briefing last week, appealed to the union to exercise patience, assuring that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was taking concrete steps to address their concerns. He disclosed that the government had already released N50 billion for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances and earmarked another N150 billion in the 2025 national budget for university revitalization, to be released in three phases.
“We understand ASUU’s frustrations. Our lecturers deserve good pay and better conditions, but these changes must be sustainable,” Alausa said. “We are committed to fulfilling our promises. However, not everything can happen overnight.”
He further revealed that arrears for promotions and other allowances had been settled and that all outstanding wage awards and welfare packages would be fully cleared by 2026. According to him, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and officials from the Ministry of Justice are now directly involved in the negotiation process to ensure legally binding agreements.
ASUU’s response: “We’ve run out of patience”
Reacting to the government’s statement, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, criticized the Ministry of Education for its lack of urgency and commitment. He accused government officials of offering promises without action and warned that the patience of university lecturers was running thin.
“The ultimatum expires on Sunday, and we have not received anything concrete from the government,” Piwuna said. “If by Monday nothing changes, we will proceed with a warning strike. We cannot continue to operate under these poor conditions.”
He stressed that the strike was not intended to punish students or the public but to push the government into fulfilling its legal and moral obligations toward the education sector.
Nationwide mobilization underway
Sources across various campuses, including the University of Lagos, University of Jos, Ahmadu Bello University, and the University of Abuja, confirmed that local ASUU branches had begun mobilization and sensitization meetings ahead of the strike’s commencement. Some universities have already suspended lectures in anticipation of the industrial action.
Union leaders reportedly held emergency meetings over the weekend to finalize modalities for the strike, with plans to review the government’s response after the two-week period before deciding on whether to extend or suspend the action.
Stakeholders react
Meanwhile, education stakeholders and student associations have expressed mixed reactions. While some support ASUU’s decision, others fear that another strike will further disrupt academic calendars and delay graduation timelines. Parents’ groups and civil society organizations have appealed to both parties to return to the negotiation table to avoid another nationwide academic shutdown.
As of Sunday evening, the Ministry of Education’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, declined to issue any comments on the unfolding situation, leaving uncertainty over whether any last-minute government intervention will prevent the looming strike.
With the planned industrial action set to begin on Monday, hopes remain high that both sides will find common ground to prevent yet another setback in Nigeria’s already fragile higher education system.