The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government of Nigeria, demanding the immediate implementation of a newly approved salary structure for university lecturers across the country.
The directive was announced by ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, during a public lecture held at Sa’adu Zungur University in Bauchi State on Thursday.
Piwuna stated that the four-day countdown takes effect immediately, stressing that the government must commence payment under the revised salary arrangement without further delay.
He warned that failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe would provoke a strong response from the union, raising the possibility of renewed industrial action across Nigerian universities.
The new salary structure was agreed upon in December 2025 after prolonged negotiations between ASUU and the Federal Government, with implementation initially scheduled to begin in January 2026. However, months after the agreement, payments are yet to commence.
Reports indicate that the revised structure includes a significant upward review of lecturers’ salaries, with figures suggesting an increase of up to 40 percent.
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ASUU leadership expressed frustration over what it described as the Federal Government’s consistent failure to honour agreements, a development that has historically triggered strikes and disruptions in Nigeria’s university system.
Earlier in March 2026, the union had directed members in some branches to withdraw services over unpaid salary arrears and issues linked to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
The ultimatum adds to growing labour unrest in Nigeria’s public sector, as other groups of federal workers have also threatened industrial action over unresolved wage-related issues.
With the deadline now in motion, attention is focused on the Federal Government’s response, as compliance could avert another round of academic disruption, while failure may plunge universities into fresh strikes.
