ASUU Mobilises for October 13 Warning Strike Over Unresolved Demands
Barring any last-minute intervention, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will begin a two-week nationwide warning strike on Monday, October 13, 2025, to compel the Federal Government to meet its long-standing demands.
This decision was confirmed in a memo tagged “Strike Bulletin One” sent to all ASUU branches and obtained in Abuja on Monday.
The move follows a 14-day ultimatum issued last week, urging the government to address key unresolved issues, including the signing and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, university revitalisation funding, and payment of outstanding salary arrears.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, lamented that the government had failed to respond meaningfully to the union’s demands despite repeated engagements.
“The National Executive Council of our union, after evaluating the results of the branch referendum, resolved to give government a 14-day ultimatum to resolve the issues contained in the negotiated document transmitted to government since February 2025,” Piwuna stated.
He added that at the expiration of the ultimatum, the union would embark on a two-week warning strike if the government failed to act satisfactorily.
Piwuna thanked members for their patience and unity during the prolonged negotiation, which he described as “a tortuous process lasting more than eight years,” and urged total mobilisation ahead of the strike.
“The goal of our action is to compel the government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement, among other demands,” he said. “We must remain united to reposition the Nigerian university system for global competitiveness.”
ASUU also instructed its members to take directives only from recognised branch chairpersons and to attend congress meetings regularly for updates.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, said updates on the government’s response would be provided “when available.”
The union’s demands include the payment of outstanding 25–35 per cent salary arrears, settlement of promotion arrears, release of third-party deductions, and an end to the victimisation of lecturers in some federal universities.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has also issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government over unfulfilled agreements, threatening to join the industrial action if issues remain unresolved.
With both unions expressing frustration over the government’s delay, Nigeria’s public university system faces another potential nationwide shutdown unless urgent action is taken before October 13.
