By Atoyebi Nike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday commenced a two-week warning strike after the 14-day ultimatum it gave to the Federal Government expired on Sunday.
ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the strike during a press briefing at the University of Abuja. He said there was “nothing sufficient on the ground” to halt the implementation of the union’s resolution to withdraw services from October 13.
“Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight on Monday, the 13th October, 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting,” Piwuna said.
The strike comes despite ongoing negotiations between the government and university unions aimed at preventing industrial action. Last Wednesday, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the government had released N50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances and earmarked N150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment.
However, ASUU rejected the government’s latest proposal presented at a Friday meeting, insisting that it failed to meet key demands. The union is calling for the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, payment of withheld salaries and arrears, revitalisation of public universities, and an end to alleged victimisation of lecturers.
In response, the Federal Government on Sunday night warned it would apply the “no work, no pay” policy. In a joint statement, Education Minister Alausa and Minister of State for Education Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad urged ASUU to reconsider, saying dialogue remained the best way to resolve disputes.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to both parties to return to the negotiation table. NANS Assistant General Secretary, Adejuwon Emmanuel, said the association was monitoring developments and warned that students would not “sit idly by” if their education was disrupted again.
In a related development, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has given the government six weeks to meet its demands, citing progress in recent engagements with the Ministry of Education.
