The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced plans to begin a two-week nationwide warning strike on Monday, October 13, 2025, after the Federal Government failed to meet its long-standing demands.
The decision was contained in a memo titled “Strike Bulletin One” sent to all ASUU branches and obtained by The PUNCH on Monday in Abuja.
ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said the government ignored the two-week ultimatum issued last week to resolve key issues, including the signing and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
“The National Executive Council of our union, at its emergency meeting of September 28, 2025, resolved to give government a 14-day ultimatum to resolve the issues contained in the negotiated document transmitted to government since February 2025,” Piwuna said.
“It was further resolved that the union will proceed on a two-week warning strike at the expiration of the ultimatum if government fails to take acceptable and satisfactory steps to address the lingering issues,” he added.
Piwuna expressed disappointment that the government had not made any progress since the ultimatum began.
“I regret to inform you that there is no meaningful development deserving any consideration to be reported,” he said.
He thanked ASUU members for their patience during what he called a “tortuous negotiation” that has lasted more than eight years.
“As we enter the second and final week of the ultimatum, I thank you for your patience and understanding. The goal of our current action remains to compel the government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement document, among other demands,” Piwuna noted.
He urged all members to stay united and prepare for the strike.
“The days ahead call for mobilisation of every member of our union to ensure unity of purpose. No one should be left out of the struggle for our welfare, to stem the japa syndrome, and reposition the Nigerian university system for global competitiveness,” he said.
According to him, “We are strong when we organise, but weakened when we agonise! Our union has always acted in solidarity as a collective; this action will not be different.”
He instructed lecturers to take directives only from their branch chairpersons and attend congress meetings for updates.
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When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, said updates on the government’s response would be provided “when available.”
ASUU’s demands include the implementation of the 2009 renegotiated agreement, sustainable funding for university revitalisation, the payment of 25–35 per cent salary arrears, resolution of promotion arrears, and the settlement of third-party deduction issues.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has also issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over unmet agreements.
NAAT President, Ibeji Nwokoma, said after a meeting in Lafia that the government had failed to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NAAT Agreement and address salary delays.
“Consequent upon the above, the union hereby issues a 14-day ultimatum to the government to address these demands. Failure to act within the stipulated period will leave the union with no option but to declare an industrial action,” Nwokoma said.
Both unions have expressed readiness to strike if the government does not act quickly, raising fears of another major disruption in Nigeria’s university system.