ASUU Begins Mobilisation For Nationwide Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commenced nationwide mobilisation of its members across public universities ahead of a planned industrial action slated to begin in less than a week. This development follows the Federal Government’s continued silence despite being served a formal strike notice, sparking renewed tension across the education sector.

The union, through a statement signed by its president, Professor Chris Piwuna, reiterated its resolve to proceed with the industrial action after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government to address its long-standing demands. The planned action, which is expected to begin with a two-week warning strike starting Sunday, September 28, 2025, will escalate into a total and indefinite strike if the government fails to take concrete steps toward resolving the issues.

Minister Of Innovation, Uche Nnaji, Caught In Certificate Scandal As UNN And NYSC Disown His Credentials

According to the statement released on October 5, 2025, ASUU’s decision followed the outcome of an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on September 29, 2025, where the union evaluated the results of a referendum conducted across its various branches. The referendum, the union said, revealed overwhelming support for a strike among members frustrated by the government’s failure to fulfill its promises.

Professor Piwuna, in his letter, expressed disappointment over what he described as the Federal Government’s “unjustifiable neglect” of the university system and the welfare of its lecturers. He noted that ASUU had, since February 2025, submitted a renegotiated agreement document to the government containing all the contentious issues, yet there had been no tangible response.

“The National Executive Council of our Union, at its emergency meeting of 29th September, 2025, having evaluated the results of the referendum held across our branches, resolved to give the government a fourteen-day ultimatum to resolve the issues contained in the negotiated document which has been transmitted to the government since February 2025,” the statement read.

“It was further resolved that the union will proceed on a two-week warning strike at the expiration of the ultimatum if the government fails to take acceptable and satisfactory steps to address the lingering issues.”

ASUU stated that copies of its resolutions had been formally communicated to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Maigari Dingyadi, the Minister of Education, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), but that none of the relevant authorities had provided any meaningful response or indication of commitment to resolving the crisis.

“It is now one week since those resolutions were reached and communicated to the appropriate authorities. I regret to inform you that there is no meaningful development deserving of any consideration to be reported,” Piwuna lamented.

The ASUU president further commended members for their “patience and resilience” throughout what he described as a torturous negotiation process that has dragged on for over eight years. He explained that the goal of the union’s action was not merely to seek better welfare for its members but to compel the government to implement policies that would reposition the Nigerian University System (NUS) for global relevance and competitiveness.

“Our goal remains principally to compel the Government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement document, amongst other demands,” Piwuna said. “The days ahead call for the mobilisation of every member of our union to ensure unity of purpose. No one should be left out of the struggle for our welfare, stem the Japa syndrome, and reposition the Nigerian University System for global competitiveness.”

The union leader’s reference to the “Japa syndrome” — the growing trend of Nigerian academics emigrating abroad in search of better working conditions — underscores ASUU’s broader concern about the deteriorating state of the nation’s education system. According to ASUU, the government’s continued neglect of universities, coupled with poor remuneration, inadequate infrastructure, and underfunding, has led to an exodus of highly skilled lecturers, thereby undermining the future of higher education in Nigeria.

ASUU also emphasised the need for solidarity and discipline among members, directing them to take instructions only from authorised union leaders and to avoid misinformation. “Members are to take instructions only from their Chairpersons. When in doubt, members should consult their Chairpersons, Zonal Coordinators, and attend Congress meetings regularly for updates on further developments,” the letter stated.

Professor Piwuna urged lecturers nationwide to remain steadfast, stressing that unity and collective action were critical to the success of the planned strike. “We are strong when we organise, but weakened when we agonise,” he declared, calling on all members to remain focused and resolute.

ASUU’s planned strike is rooted in several unresolved demands, including the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government Agreement, payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), release of withheld salary arrears, improved university funding, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as the preferred payment platform for lecturers.

Over the years, these issues have been at the heart of repeated industrial disputes between the union and successive governments. In 2022, ASUU embarked on an eight-month strike that paralysed academic activities across public universities. The dispute ended only after a court ordered lecturers back to work, though most of the issues that led to that strike remain unresolved.

Observers warn that another nationwide shutdown of universities could have devastating consequences for students, parents, and the education sector at large. The National Parents-Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has already appealed to the government to engage ASUU in meaningful dialogue to avert the impending strike. Education analysts have also criticised the government for failing to honour agreements with the union, describing it as a recurring pattern that erodes public confidence in the education system.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has yet to issue a formal response to ASUU’s latest ultimatum. A senior official in the ministry, speaking anonymously, hinted that a meeting between government representatives and ASUU might be scheduled before the strike commencement date in a last-minute attempt to avert the shutdown.

As the countdown to September 28, 2025, continues, uncertainty looms large over the academic calendar of Nigeria’s public universities. Students across campuses have expressed frustration over the possibility of another disruption, while lecturers insist that industrial action remains their “last resort” after years of unfulfilled promises.

For now, ASUU’s mobilisation efforts intensify nationwide, as both sides brace for what could become another prolonged standoff in Nigeria’s long history of labour disputes in the education sector. The next few days will determine whether dialogue or confrontation will define the future of the country’s public university system.