The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed lecturers in 20 universities to begin preparations for industrial action over what it described as the incomplete implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement by the Federal and state governments.
The union issued a 14-day ultimatum to the affected governments and university authorities to address the outstanding issues, warning that its branches would commence strike action immediately after the deadline if their demands are not met. The development has raised fresh concerns over possible disruption of academic activities in public universities.
The decision was reached at ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026. ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclosed this in a statement, adding that an emergency NEC meeting would be held at the end of August or early September to assess developments and determine the union’s next course of action.
The affected institutions include Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Gombe State University; Plateau State University, Bokkos; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Abia State University, Uturu; and University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa.
Others are Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo; Kaduna State University; Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Northwest University, Kano; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Imo State University; Niger Delta University; University of Africa, Toru-Orua; Bayelsa Medical University; and Taraba State University, Jalingo.
ASUU said the affected branches would embark on the proposed strike once the 14-day ultimatum expires if the outstanding matters remain unresolved. The union added that its branches in the Sokoto Zone had already issued a similar two-week ultimatum.
According to ASUU, the latest dispute was triggered by what it described as the “haphazard implementation” of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement and the Federal Government’s alleged delay in releasing the subvention required for its full implementation. The union also accused visitors to some state-owned universities of failing to implement key provisions of the agreement.
The 2025 agreement, signed in December after years of negotiations, was designed to address longstanding issues involving lecturers’ welfare, remuneration, research funding, infrastructure and the general underfunding of public universities. One of its major provisions was a 40 per cent increase in academic staff salaries, effective from January 1, 2026.
The agreement also introduced the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), aimed at supporting expenses related to journal publications, membership of learned societies, conferences, internet access and books. Professors are also entitled to a Professorial Cadre Allowance of N1.74 million annually, while readers are to receive N840,000 annually.
ASUU has, however, complained that implementation of the agreement has been uneven, with some universities allegedly paying only parts of the approved salary components while others have yet to implement certain provisions. The union also expressed concern over delays in constituting the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which it said was necessary to address bureaucratic challenges affecting the agreement.
Meanwhile, the union’s NEC also considered issues relating to academic promotions, appointments and insecurity on university campuses. It commended the withdrawal of two professorial appointments at the Federal University Lokoja following opposition and investigations by the university’s ASUU branch.
At the Federal University Wukari, however, the union expressed concern over the promotion of a former registrar to the professorial cadre. ASUU consequently directed its branches to resist the promotion of bursars and registrars who do not meet the professorial promotion requirements applicable in their respective universities.
The union also raised concerns over insecurity on university campuses, particularly attacks that have resulted in the deaths of some of its members. It directed affected branches to petition the police and other security agencies and submit comprehensive reports to the national leadership.
With the 14-day ultimatum now in effect, the Federal Government and affected state governments face renewed pressure to resolve the outstanding issues and prevent another industrial dispute from disrupting academic activities in Nigeria’s university system.
