By Gideon Maxwell
October 12, 2025
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced a two-week warning strike across all public universities in Nigeria, effective from midnight on Monday, October 13, 2025.
The union explained that the strike follows the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government, which ASUU says was ignored.
The action is aimed at compelling the government to address long-standing issues affecting lecturers and the quality of education in public universities.
ASUU’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, emphasised that the warning strike is a total and comprehensive action.
He warned that failure to meet the union’s demands within the two-week period could escalate the industrial action into an indefinite strike.
The union says its decision is justified by the Federal Government’s inaction on critical issues, including the renegotiation and full implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, which sets out terms for lecturers’ welfare and the funding of public universities.
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ASUU also demands the immediate payment of three and a half months’ withheld salaries, settlement of outstanding salary arrears ranging from 25–35 per cent, and the payment of promotion arrears spanning over four years.
In addition, the union is calling for sustainable and increased funding to revitalise public universities, ensuring they meet global standards, and an end to the victimisation of lecturers at institutions such as Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University (KSU), and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).
ASUU is also insisting on the release of withheld third-party deductions, including cooperative contributions and union dues.
Professor Piwuna noted that ASUU has consistently engaged the federal government in dialogue over these concerns, but inadequate responses have forced the union to take industrial action. He stressed that the strike is necessary to protect lecturers’ welfare, safeguard the future of public universities, and ensure quality education for students nationwide.
The union has appealed to students, parents, and other stakeholders to understand the reasons behind the strike and urged the government to act swiftly to address the unresolved demands.
