The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has handed the Federal Government a fourteen-day ultimatum to resolve long-standing demands or face an industrial action that could begin with a two-week warning strike and escalate into a total and indefinite shutdown of public universities.
The directive was contained in a communiqué issued after the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja on Sunday, September 28, 2025. In the statement signed by ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, the lecturers accused the government of failing to address issues that have persisted for more than a decade.
“It is over sixteen years now since ASUU has brought these issues to the media and the public domain. It means therefore that these issues are not new to you and the general public,” the Union stated.
Among the unresolved matters are the re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding of universities, revitalization of public institutions, alleged victimization of lecturers in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University), and FUTO, outstanding salary arrears of 25–35 percent, delayed promotions for over four years, and third-party deductions.
ASUU argued that both Federal and State Governments have consistently shown little or no regard for the education sector and the welfare of academics despite repeated rallies, protests, and media engagements.
The Union stressed that it remains convinced the Nigerian Government has the capacity to fix public universities, urging citizens, traditional rulers, parents, students, and other stakeholders to pressure the authorities into action.
“There is this common logic that; a pilot who hears an alarm of danger would refuse to fly so as to avoid a crash. The fourteen (14) days ultimatum therefore is an alarm to the Nigerian Government and ASUU as a Union believes that the Government has the muscle to avert this looming strike. As they say in English: a stitch in time saves nine,” the statement read.
Piwuna reaffirmed that the struggle to reposition Nigeria’s universities continues until the government demonstrates genuine commitment to the sector.
