Tag ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the suspension of its two-week warning strike, allowing the Federal Government a one-month window to complete the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and address other unresolved matters affecting Nigeria’s public universities.

The ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, made this known during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. He explained that the decision followed productive discussions with the government and mediation efforts from the National Assembly.

Why ASUU Declared the Warning Strike

According to Professor Piwuna, ASUU declared the warning strike on 13 October 2025 after the government failed to respond to repeated appeals to finalise the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement and attend to lecturers’ welfare issues.

He said the union had exhausted all peaceful channels before taking that decision. “When we gathered here about 10 days ago to declare the warning strike, it was a painful move made out of necessity. The government had ignored several requests to resolve issues vital to the survival of Nigeria’s public universities,” he said.

Progress Made During Negotiations

Following the start of the strike, the Federal Government re-engaged ASUU through a committee led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, which met with union representatives on 16 and 18 October 2025 to review the government’s position on the draft renegotiated agreement.

Piwuna explained that while not all issues were resolved, progress was made compared to the pre-strike situation. “We have not achieved every objective, but we are certainly not where we were before the strike began,” he said.

He praised the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, the Labour Committee, and the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, for their role in mediating between the union and the government.

NEC’s Decision on the Suspension

After an emergency meeting held between 21 and 22 October 2025, the ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) reviewed the progress of discussions and concluded that the warning strike had achieved part of its purpose — compelling the government to resume negotiations.

The union stated that it suspended the strike to create a more favourable environment for continued dialogue, taking into account the interests of students, parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and other Nigerians who showed support and understanding.

What Happens Next for ASUU and the Government

While the suspension marks a temporary truce, ASUU warned that if the Federal Government fails to address the pending issues within the agreed one-month timeframe, the union may resume industrial action without further notice.

Professor Piwuna reaffirmed the union’s commitment to improving public university education and urged Nigerians to encourage the government to keep its promises. “The struggle continues,” he said, stressing that maintaining harmony in the academic sector depends on mutual respect and genuine action.

The Federal Government has instructed vice-chancellors of all federal universities to fully apply the “no work, no pay” policy to lecturers of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) taking part in the ongoing nationwide strike.

A circular dated October 13, 2025, signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, confirmed the directive.

Copies of the document were sent to several top offices, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Permanent Secretary of Education, Pro-Chancellors of federal universities, the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Government Stance on the Strike

The Federal Ministry of Education expressed disappointment over the continuation of the strike, saying repeated appeals for dialogue had been ignored. It stated that the government would strictly uphold existing labour laws to maintain order in public universities.

The circular reaffirmed the government’s position:

“In line with the Labour Laws of the Federation, the Federal Government maintains that any employee who fails to perform official duties during a strike will not receive payment for that period.”

Immediate Action Required from Universities

Dr. Alausa instructed all vice-chancellors to carry out a roll call and physical headcount of academic staff in their institutions.
They must then prepare a detailed report showing which lecturers are working and which are on strike.

He also directed that salaries for staff who do not report to work during the strike should be withheld.

Exempted Academic Unions

The directive excludes members of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), as these groups are not part of the ongoing strike. Their salaries will continue to be paid in full.

Oversight and Compliance

The NUC has been asked to monitor how universities comply with this order and to present a comprehensive report to the ministry within seven days.

Dr. Alausa urged university leaders to treat the issue with urgency and responsibility, saying the matter concerns national interest.

ASUU had on Sunday announced a total and comprehensive warning strike to begin Monday, October 13.

ASUU’s Demands

The union’s demands include:

• Finalising the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement
• Payment of three and a half months’ withheld salaries
• Sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities
• Ending the victimisation of lecturers at LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO
• Settlement of 25–35% salary arrears and promotion arrears outstanding for over four years
• Release of withheld third-party deductions, such as cooperative contributions and union dues.

So, it’s happening again. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, better known as ASUU, is once more knocking on the government’s door—this time, with a louder bang. Barring any last-minute miracle, lecturers across Nigeria’s public universities are set to begin a two-week nationwide warning strike on Monday, October 13, 2025. The message? Enough talk, it’s time for action.

The Memo That Sparked It All

The decision came through a memo tagged “Strike Bulletin One,” quietly circulated to branches and later leaked to the press. Inside was a mix of frustration and resolve. The ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, explained that after waiting out a two-week ultimatum, the union had no choice left.

According to him, the government had made “no meaningful move” to honour the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, a document that has gathered more dust than progress for years. You can almost feel the exasperation in his words, can’t you?

“We gave a 14-day ultimatum for the government to resolve the issues in the negotiated document transmitted since February 2025,” he wrote. “We’ve seen no real progress.”

So, the plan? A two-week warning strike, just to remind everyone that patience has its limits.

What ASUU Wants Fixed

The union’s demands aren’t new. They’ve echoed for nearly a decade:

• Signing and carrying out the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement
• Steady funding for public university revitalisation
• Clearing salary arrears between 25 and 35 per cent
• Sorting out promotion delays that have dragged for four years or more
• Paying third-party deductions still hanging somewhere in the system

Each time, government officials nod, hold meetings, and issue promises. But like a song stuck on repeat, nothing much changes. Now, ASUU says it’s tired of “empty chairs and empty replies.”

A Call for Unity and Action

Prof. Piwuna, in his memo, didn’t just talk about demands—he rallied his people. He praised members for staying patient during what he called a “tortuous negotiation” that’s stretched beyond eight years. That’s a long time, even by Nigeria’s negotiation standards.

He urged everyone to stay united and “mobilise every member,” stressing that this isn’t just about pay. It’s also about saving the university system from crumbling and stopping the “japa” wave of lecturers fleeing the country for better lives abroad.

“We are strong when we organise, but weakened when we agonise,” he reminded members.

There’s a punch to that line, like something you’d hear at a rally under the hot Abuja sun.

Members have been told to take orders only from their branch chairpersons and stick to official channels for updates. No side gossip, no confusion—just focus.

Government’s Silence and a Familiar Pattern

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education is keeping mum. A spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, said updates would be shared “when available.” That’s bureaucratic for “we don’t have much to say yet.”

You can almost predict how this plays out. ASUU sets a deadline, the government delays, and then the strike hits. Students sit at home, lecturers grow more bitter, and parents shake their heads wondering when the cycle will ever end.

Maybe that’s why some Nigerians, tired of the stop-start rhythm of university life, just sigh and say, “Na who wan study again?”

Another Union, Same Frustration: NAAT Steps In

It’s not only ASUU crying foul this time. The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has also thrown its hat into the ring, giving the government a 14-day ultimatum too. Their gripes? Also familiar.

In their communiqué from a NEC meeting at the Federal University, Lafia, NAAT said the Ministry of Education, led by Dr Tunji Alausa, hasn’t been keeping its end of the bargain. Agreements signed in July and follow-up meetings held in September have produced plenty of talk but little progress.

Their complaints include:

• The incomplete renegotiation of the FGN/NAAT 2009 Agreement
• Delays in mainstreaming earned allowances
• Non-release of the circular for CONTISS 14 and 15, blocking career progression
• Slow salary payments causing hardship for members

They even mentioned that a report was sent to the government without consulting them first. That one stung deeply.

NAAT’s tone was calm but firm: if nothing happens within 14 days, they’ll down tools too. Everyone’s tired, everyone’s broke, and the economy’s biting harder than ever.

The Warning From Abuja

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again drawn a line in the sand. At a meeting of its National Executive Council on Sunday, 28 September 2025, at the University of Abuja, the union issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.

The message was clear, almost blunt. Fix the issues dragging down Nigeria’s universities or risk another spell of strike action. For many Nigerians, the announcement was like a shadow from the past creeping back.

What The Union Is Saying

ASUU’s National President, Prof Chris Piwuna, released a statement accusing the government of neglecting the education sector and turning a blind eye to old agreements.

According to him, the union has grown weary of waiting. If nothing changes by the end of the 14 days, lecturers may first withdraw from classrooms for two weeks as a warning. After that, things could snowball into a full, indefinite strike.

Long-Standing Demands

The issues are not new, yet they remain unresolved. ASUU listed its long-held demands, which include:

• A proper renegotiation of the 2009 agreement
• Fresh revitalisation funds for public universities
• Payment of outstanding salary arrears
• A reliable funding structure that can support the sector for years to come

Many of these promises, the union argues, have been recycled in words but not honoured in action.

The Government’s Side

To ease the tension, the Federal Ministry of Education had recently formed a committee led by its Permanent Secretary, Abel Enitan. The task was to look into ASUU’s proposals and suggest a way forward. Yet, up to now, no decision or outcome has been shared with the public.