ASUU Threatens “Mother of All Strikes” Over Unfulfilled 2009 Agreement

ASUU Threatens “Mother of All Strikes” Over Unfulfilled 2009 Agreement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that it is prepared to embark on what it described as the “mother of all strikes” if the Federal Government fails to implement the long-standing 2009 agreement and other pending demands.

The warning was issued by the University of Calabar (Unical) chapter during a press conference held on Tuesday in Calabar.

Dr. Peter Ubi, Chairman of the ASUU-Unical chapter, emphasized that it was time for the government to fulfil commitments aimed at lifting the standard of university education in Nigeria.

According to him, the planned industrial action would commence immediately after the national body of ASUU reaches a resolution at its scheduled meeting on August 28, 2025.

ASUU’s Key Demands

Ubi listed the union’s demands to include:

Renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.

Sustainable funding and revitalisation of Nigerian universities.

Payment of the outstanding 25–35 per cent wage award.

Settlement of three months’ salary arrears and over four years’ promotion arrears.

Remittance of third-party deductions withheld by government.

He lamented that despite repeated assurances, successive administrations have failed to address these issues, forcing the union to resort to industrial actions.

“The government made promises on these issues, and regrettably, we are here today to inform the Nigerian public that these undisputed issues have not been resolved for several years now.

Unfortunately, government, in its characteristics, has paid deaf ears to our demands and has constantly pushed our union to embark on strike,” Ubi said.

Concerns Over Proliferation of Universities

Beyond the strike warning, the ASUU-Unical chapter also called on government to halt the establishment of private universities, warning against the unchecked proliferation of institutions without adequate standards.

Commending the Federal Government for recently placing a seven-year moratorium on the creation of new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, the union urged that the same measure be extended to states and private investors.

“We have 72 federal universities and 159 private universities, bringing the total to 339 universities, giving each state and the FCT an average of nine universities, excluding polytechnics and colleges of education.

We are also appealing that the moratorium be extended to private institutions,” Ubi stated.

Background

The Federal Government had earlier announced a seven-year suspension on establishing new federal universities and other tertiary institutions, citing concerns over funding and sustainability.

With ASUU’s national meeting slated for August 28, 2025, tension is rising across campuses, as students and stakeholders await the outcome that could determine whether the union proceeds with another nationwide strike.