Barring any last-minute intervention, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will on Monday, October 13, 2025, commence a two-week nationwide warning strike to press home its long-standing demands from the Federal Government.
The decision was contained in a memo tagged “Strike Bulletin One” issued to all branches of the union on Monday in Abuja.
The planned industrial action follows a 14-day ultimatum earlier issued by the union, urging the government to address unresolved issues, including the signing and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
ASUU’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, in the circular, lamented the government’s silence despite repeated engagements and the expiration of the ultimatum.
“The National Executive Council, at its emergency meeting held on September 28, 2025, after evaluating referendum outcomes from branches, resolved to give the government a 14-day ultimatum to resolve the issues contained in the negotiated document transmitted since February 2025,” Piwuna stated.
He added that the government’s failure to act satisfactorily within the period necessitated the union’s decision to embark on a warning strike, noting that relevant ministries and labour unions had been duly notified.
“As we enter the second and final week of the ultimatum, I thank our members for their patience during this tortuous negotiation that has unjustifiably lasted over eight years,” Piwuna said. “Our action aims to compel the government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement, among other pending issues.”
The ASUU president urged members to remain united, mobilised, and resolute, stressing that the struggle is not only for improved welfare but also to “reposition the Nigerian university system for global competitiveness.”
The union’s demands include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding for university revitalisation, payment of outstanding salary arrears, resolution of promotion backlogs, and settlement of third-party deduction issues.
In a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council meeting at the University of Abuja, ASUU maintained that “the government has the capacity to avert this looming strike if it so desires.”
Meanwhile, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) also issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on Monday, citing the non-implementation of key resolutions previously agreed upon.
In a statement signed by its National President, Ibeji Nwokoma, after its NEC meeting at the Federal University, Lafia, NAAT expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Education’s failure to convene meetings and address lingering concerns affecting its members.
The union’s grievances include the incomplete renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NAAT Agreement, non-mainstreaming of earned allowances, delays in salary payments, and the non-release of circulars enabling career progression to CONTISS 14 and 15.
“While NAAT remains open to dialogue, failure to meet our demands within the stipulated period will leave the union with no choice but to declare an industrial action,” the communiqué stated.
Both ASUU and NAAT have consistently accused the Federal Government of neglecting the university system, warning that continued inaction could lead to a renewed cycle of strikes disrupting academic activities nationwide.
 will on Monday, October 13, 2025){kind=link}