The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has handed the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to address what it described as lingering issues affecting the nation’s universities, warning that failure to act would trigger a fresh round of strikes.
Rising from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at the University of Abuja, the union lamented what it called years of neglect of the education sector, especially the university system.
In a statement issued after the meeting, ASUU noted that several rallies and engagements with the government in the last three months yielded no tangible results.
“Both the Federal and State Governments have developed a strong habit of paying little or no attention to the education sector in general and the welfare of university academics in particular,” the union declared.
The lecturers’ body outlined key grievances, including: full implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement; adequate and sustainable funding of universities ; revitalization of the university system ; settlement of outstanding salary arrears of between 25–35 percent ; release of promotion arrears pending for over four years; stoppage of victimisation of lecturers in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University), and FUTO ; and remittance of third-party deductions.
ASUU warned that if its demands were not met within two weeks, it would first embark on a two-week warning strike before proceeding to a total and indefinite shutdown of universities nationwide.
“For over 16 years, ASUU has brought these issues to the media and the public domain. They are not new. The government cannot claim ignorance,” the statement read.
Appealing to stakeholders to intervene, the union said: “aSUU is confident that the Nigerian leadership has the capacity to fix Nigerian universities once and for all.
“We also believe strongly that the Nigerian Government has the financial strength to tackle the problem of university education in Nigeria. The time to do that is now.”
It likened the ultimatum to an emergency alarm that must not be ignored: “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. As they say in English, a stitch in time saves nine.”
ASUU called on parents, religious and traditional rulers, and other well-meaning Nigerians to press the government to avert another round of industrial action.
“The struggle continues,” the union said.
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