The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that it will proceed with a two-week nationwide warning strike starting October 13 unless the Federal Government addresses its outstanding demands.
In a statement and letters circulated to member branches, ASUU President Prof. Chris Piwuna reiterated that the union’s position is firm, and that negotiations will not prevent the strike if no “acceptable and satisfactory steps” are taken by the government before the deadline.
“The warning strike has been issued and we are not meeting to discuss that again as a union,” Prof. Piwuna declared, adding that the strike will begin at midnight on October 13.
ASUU’s ultimatum follows a resolution by its National Executive Council (NEC) on September 29, 2025, after a nationwide referendum by branches. The union had originally transmitted its demands to the government as far back as February 2025 and is aggrieved by what it calls “persistent neglect.”
The unresolved issues include renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement, improved funding for public universities, better welfare for academic staff, and opposition to student loan schemes under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
In response to the threat, the Federal Government has reconstituted an expanded negotiation committee to avert the strike, with former Head of Service Mahmud Yayale Ahmed named as chair.
Observers say the looming strike could worsen disruption in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, already strained by repeated industrial actions in recent years.