The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has begun mobilising lecturers across Nigerian universities for a nationwide strike, following the Federal Government’s failure to meet its long-standing demands. The union had earlier issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government to resolve key issues, including the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, before taking industrial action.

In a memo dated October 5, 2025, ASUU President Prof. Chris Piwuna expressed disappointment that there had been no meaningful progress since the ultimatum was issued. He noted that despite notifying the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of Labour, Maigari Dingyadi, the government had remained silent. According to him, ASUU would commence a two-week warning strike once the deadline expires, after which a total and indefinite strike would follow if no resolution is reached.

Piwuna urged all university branches to remain united and fully prepared for the action, stressing that the goal of the strike is to compel the government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement and address other issues like funding, promotion arrears, academic earned allowances, and revitalisation of universities. He thanked members for their patience throughout the long negotiation process, which he described as “torturous” and unnecessarily prolonged.

The ASUU President also appealed to Nigerians, including parents, students, and traditional leaders, to call on the government to prioritize education and the welfare of university lecturers. He emphasised that ASUU’s struggle is not just about salaries but about safeguarding the future of the Nigerian university system and ensuring its competitiveness globally.