ASUU threatens nationwide strike over unpaid salaries and unfulfilled agreements

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned of a nationwide strike if the Nigerian government does not quickly resolve issues affecting universities.

ASUU president, Christopher Piwuna, a professor, shared this in a statement after an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) on Thursday.

The union's decision came after the government failed to fully implement the December 2025 agreement made after long negotiations.

This agreement followed many disputes between ASUU and different governments about funding and working conditions in Nigerian public universities.

ASUU said the incomplete or "haphazard implementation" of the 2025 agreement, along with unpaid salaries and unreturned deductions, could lead to another crisis in Nigeria’s public universities.

The union warned it might start the suspended strike “without any further notice” if its demands are not met.

“ASUU cannot guarantee an uninterrupted academic calendar at the expense of the existential needs of our members,” the union stated.

“ASUU-NEC resolved to notify all concerned that the Union may activate its suspended strike action without any further notice if the critical issues raised in this release are not speedily addressed.”

ASUU’s concerns

Mr Piwuna noted that the union is worried about the non-implementation of the agreement, unpaid salaries for lecturers, unreturned third-party deductions, and what they see as violations of university laws.

He pointed out that aside from recent efforts by the Federal Ministry of Education to pay outstanding salaries to lecturers in federal universities of agriculture, there have been no real attempts to address the union’s concerns long-term.

“Unless immediate and concrete steps are taken to fully and comprehensively address issues bordering the welfare and well-being of Nigerian academics, ASUU-NEC will not accept any blame for calling out its members on a nationwide strike action within the shortest time possible,” Mr Piwuna said.

The union mentioned that lecturers are still uncertain about their monthly salaries, with some unsure when or how much of their salaries would be paid.

ASUU also renewed its demand for the payment of the remaining three-and-a-half months’ salaries that were withheld from lecturers in 2022 during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s time in office.

The Buhari administration withheld seven-and-a-half months’ salaries during the 2022 dispute, but President Bola Tinubu's administration has since paid four months’ salaries.

Third-party deductions

Another key issue raised by the union is the failure to return deductions made from lecturers’ salaries.

ASUU stated that deductions for pension contributions, staff cooperative societies, and union check-off dues have not been sent back for several months.

The union said these deductions amount to billions of naira and accused the government of not resolving the issue despite earlier discussions.

ASUU has always opposed the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which it claims does not fit the needs of university employment.

The union said it is ready to “call out” its members if the issue of third-party deductions is not resolved.

State universities

ASUU also expressed concerns about how the December 2025 agreement is being applied in state-owned universities.

The union praised Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for accepting the agreement and apologizing to ASUU for delays caused by bureaucratic issues.

It mentioned that implementation has started in Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Kebbi, Katsina, and Borno states.

According to ASUU, Kano, Edo, Plateau, Taraba, Gombe, and Bayelsa states have promised to begin implementation in September or October.

The union warned that state governments that have not started implementing the agreement risk causing their universities to face an industrial crisis.

It stated that the authorities of these universities have been informed that strike action will begin at their institutions with the support of the union’s national leadership unless they make satisfactory progress.