With tension mounting in the academic sector, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has formally begun the mobilisation of its members in public universities nationwide, signalling that industrial action may soon follow.
During its emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on September 29, 2025, ASUU reviewed the results of a referendum conducted across its branches and resolved to issue a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address its outstanding demands.
In a Strike Bulletin No. 1 dated October 5 and signed by ASUU President Prof. Christopher Piwuna, the union lamented that one week after communicating its resolutions to the Ministers of Labour and Education, as well as to the Nigeria Labour Congress, “no meaningful development deserving of any consideration” had been reported.
If the government fails to act satisfactorily by the expiration of the ultimatum, ASUU says it will commence a two-week warning strike, eventually escalating to an indefinite strike if their demands remain unmet.
To prepare for its threatened action, ASUU has activated its grassroots network across universities. The union has directed every member to mobilise under the guidance of branch chairpersons and zonal coordinators, attend congress meetings for updates, and follow instructions strictly from recognised union structures.
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In his bulletin, Prof. Piwuna stated, “The days ahead call for mobilisation of every member … No one should be left out of the struggle to our welfare, stem the Japa syndrome and reposition the Nigeria University System (NUS) for global competitiveness.”
The decision to mobilise comes against a backdrop of protracted negotiations with the government, some spanning over eight years, centred on the renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, payments of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), salary backlogs, and the revitalization of public universities.
ASUU officials contend that successive governments have failed to honour commitments made in past agreements, frustrating efforts to secure sustainable funding, infrastructure upgrades, and improved conditions of service for academic staff.
Should the threatened strike commence, academic activities, including lectures, examinations, and research across Nigeria’s public universities will face severe disruption. This will further strain already stretched institutional calendars and deepen anxiety among students, parents, and university administrations.
Already, observers warn that repeated strike actions could erode public confidence in the tertiary education system, push students toward private institutions, and exacerbate staff “Japa” migration (brain drain) from universities.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government faces mounting pressure to engage meaningfully with ASUU’s demands, or risk further escalation. It remains to be seen whether concessionary measures or high-level interventions can avert the looming industrial action.
As the deadline inches closer, all eyes are fixed on the Federal Government’s next move, and whether ASUU will trigger the strike it has long threatened.
This report will be updated as developments unfold.
