The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the commencement of a two-week warning strike beginning today (Monday), following the expiration of its 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on Sunday.
The declaration was made by ASUU’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, during a press conference at the University of Abuja on Sunday. The decision marks a fresh round of confrontation between the union and the government amid ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving long-standing issues in the university system.
Prof. Piwuna said the union had no choice but to proceed with the industrial action after what he described as the government’s failure to meet key demands outlined in the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement and to implement previously agreed welfare and funding measures.
“Compatriots of the press, 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 of September, 2025,” he declared.
The announcement comes despite assurances from the Federal Government last week that discussions with the union were nearing conclusion. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had revealed in Abuja that the Tinubu administration was in the final phase of negotiations with ASUU and other university-based unions to address issues related to welfare, university funding, and the revitalisation of public tertiary institutions.
According to Alausa, the government had released ₦50 billion for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances and earmarked an additional ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment projects, to be disbursed in three tranches.
However, ASUU insists that several other commitments — including the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, payment of withheld salaries, and full autonomy for universities — remain unfulfilled.
The union’s latest decision raises fears of a renewed disruption to academic activities across public universities, many of which are still recovering from the eight-month strike that crippled the sector in 2022.
