The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced that it will begin a two-week warning strike today, October 13, 2025, following the expiration of its 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government. The decision to strike was made after failed negotiations and a rejected proposal from the government.
ASUU’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, confirmed the strike at a press briefing held on Sunday at the University of Abuja. “It goes without saying that there is nothing sufficient on the ground to stop the implementation of the ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike at the expiry of the 14-day notice given on the 28th September 2025,” Piwuna said. “Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight on Monday, the 13th October 2025.”
The warning strike is set to be comprehensive and will include all branches of the union, as agreed at the last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
The Federal Government had attempted to resolve the dispute by presenting a proposal to ASUU last Friday, but it was rejected. ASUU’s leadership, led by Piwuna, stated that the proposal failed to address the union’s key demands, which include the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the release of withheld salaries, sustainable funding for public universities, and the payment of salary arrears among other issues.
The education minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had previously revealed that the government had made significant progress, including the release of N50bn for Earned Academic Allowances and the allocation of N150bn in the 2025 budget for needs assessment in universities. However, ASUU deemed the proposal insufficient.
“The proposal was a total departure from the letter and spirit of the review of the draft agreement submitted by the Yayale Ahmed committee to the ministry,” Piwuna said. He also noted that ASUU would soon present its own position to the Federal Government, highlighting inconsistencies and violations in the proposal.
Following ASUU’s strike announcement, the Federal Government issued a statement warning that it would invoke the “no work, no pay” policy. Ministers of Education, Dr. Alausa, and Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, urged ASUU to reconsider its decision and emphasized that dialogue remained the most effective path to resolving the crisis.
In a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Education, it was noted that the government had made a comprehensive offer that addressed key issues including working conditions, institutional governance, and staff welfare. The government accused ASUU of not being cooperative despite ongoing efforts to resolve the dispute.
ASUU has long expressed dissatisfaction with the funding and management of public universities, pointing to infrastructure decay, inadequate research facilities, and the failure of the government to implement previous agreements. The union has repeatedly cited unpaid salaries and promotion arrears as significant contributors to the current strike.
The union’s grievances also include the victimization of lecturers at various institutions, including Lagos State University, Kogi State University, and Federal University of Technology, Owerri. ASUU’s leadership has expressed frustration over the government’s failure to demonstrate genuine commitment to addressing these issues.
The strike is expected to exacerbate the already strained academic calendar in public universities, with students facing further disruptions to their studies.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has voiced its concern over the strike, urging the Federal Government to act with urgency in addressing ASUU’s demands. NANS Assistant General Secretary, Adejuwon Emmanuel, emphasized the negative impact of another strike on students and called for constructive dialogue between the union and the government.
“The future of Nigerian students must not be sacrificed on the altar of bureaucracy and broken promises,” Emmanuel stated. NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, has already initiated consultations to mediate between the two parties and avoid further escalation.
In a related development, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has given the Federal Government a six-week window to address its demands. ASUP had initially served a 21-day ultimatum in August, highlighting issues such as the Peculiar Academic Allowance, funding, and welfare.
Following several meetings with the Ministry of Education, ASUP has decided to extend the deadline based on the progress made so far. The union has noted the release of a circular by the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission regarding the Peculiar Academic Allowance and the ongoing monitoring of the 2025 NEEDS ASSESSMENT intervention for polytechnics.
