The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to meet its demands or risk a fresh round of strikes that could shut down public universities across Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Abuja, the union accused the government of neglecting the nation’s universities and ignoring the welfare of academic staff.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, who signed the statement, said the union was disappointed that despite recent protests across campuses, the government had failed to respond meaningfully to its long-standing demands.
The union warned that if the Federal Government fails to act within the two-week deadline, lecturers would begin with a two-week warning strike, which could escalate into a total and indefinite nationwide shutdown if issues remain unresolved.
Among ASUU’s unresolved grievances are:
- Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement
- Sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities
- End to victimisation of union members at Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University (Kogi), and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO)
- Payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears
- Settlement of delayed promotion arrears spanning over four years
- Resolution of pending third-party deductions
The union stressed that its patience was running out, insisting that the government must act decisively to prevent another disruption to Nigeria’s already fragile academic calendar.
