The Academic Staff Union of Universities has announced a two-week warning strike across public universities, blaming the Federal Government’s failure to meet long-standing demands for the renewed industrial action.
The strike, scheduled to begin at midnight on Sunday, was confirmed in Abuja by the union’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum earlier issued to the government.
Piwuna said the warning strike became unavoidable after government officials failed to make tangible progress on key issues affecting the university system. He warned that the union would escalate the action to a total and indefinite strike if the situation remained unresolved after the two-week period.
According to him, the action is intended to draw attention to persistent delays in implementing agreements and addressing critical challenges facing public universities.
Among the unresolved issues listed by the union are the renegotiation and signing of the 2009 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement, payment of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, outstanding salary arrears of between 25 and 35 per cent, unpaid promotion arrears, and the release of withheld third-party deductions.
Other concerns include sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities, as well as alleged victimisation of lecturers in Lagos State University, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Piwuna expressed disappointment with the outcome of a recent emergency meeting of the FGN–ASUU renegotiation committee held on October 10, describing documents presented by government representatives as inconsistent with previous agreements.
He added that repeated assurances from government officials, including correspondence from the Federal Ministry of Education dated September 30, had not translated into concrete action.
The union appealed to students, parents, and the general public for understanding, stating that its actions were aimed at safeguarding the future of Nigeria’s university system.
Meanwhile, the Congress of University Academics said its members would not participate in the strike. The union’s National President, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, said CONUA had no unresolved dispute with the government and had resolved to continue academic activities.
Sunmonu argued that repeated strikes had failed to deliver lasting solutions and had instead caused harm to students and the education system. He said CONUA would continue to engage government through dialogue and negotiation rather than industrial action.
The National Association of Nigerian Students has also called for a swift resolution of the dispute, urging all parties to prioritise stability in the university system.
