The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a total and comprehensive two-week warning strike affecting all public universities in Nigeria.
The announcement was made by the Union’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, during a press conference held on Sunday at the University of Abuja.
Professor Piwuna said the decision followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government on September 28, 2025, which lapsed without any meaningful engagement or progress.
“All ASUU branches across the country have been directed to commence a full withdrawal of their services beginning at midnight on Monday, October 13, 2025,” he stated.
He explained that the strike would be “total and comprehensive”, in line with resolutions reached at the union’s most recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
ASUU had earlier accused both the Federal and State Governments of neglecting the university system and failing to address long-standing issues, including the implementation of the 2009 Agreement, funding for revitalization, unpaid earned allowances, and the replacement of IPPIS with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
The union lamented that despite organizing peaceful rallies in August 2025 across university campuses to draw attention to their demands, the government had failed to respond.
“What is clear for now is that both the federal and state governments have a strong habit of paying little or no attention to the education sector in general and the welfare of university academics in particular,” ASUU stated.
Government Appeals for Patience
Last week, the Federal Government appealed to ASUU to reconsider its planned strike, assuring that efforts were underway to resolve the outstanding issues.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said during a press conference in Abuja that President Bola Tinubu had directed all relevant agencies to fast-track talks with the union and ensure no further disruption to academic activities.
He added that the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee had been reconstituted and inaugurated to engage all university unions, including both academic and non-academic bodies.
Despite this assurance, ASUU maintained that the government’s appeal came “too late.”
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief program, Prof. Piwuna criticized the government’s delay in responding, saying:
“They gave us three weeks, and we accepted. But we never heard a word from them until the three weeks elapsed — not even a courtesy message. Now, just two working days before our action, they ask us to wait. I think the appeal has come a little too late.”
He reaffirmed that the union would proceed with the planned strike unless the government took urgent and concrete steps to address their demands.
Report by: Chris Odjomah