ASUU ISSUES 14-DAY ULTIMATUM TO FG, THREATENS INDEFINITE STRIKE
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government of Nigeria to address lingering issues affecting the nation’s public universities or face imminent industrial action.
In a press briefing held on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at the University of Abuja, the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) expressed frustration over what it described as the Federal and State Governments’ neglect of the education sector, particularly the welfare of university lecturers.
ASUU President, Dr. Christopher Piwuna, who signed the statement, noted that despite numerous engagements with the press and rallies organized across federal and state universities in August 2025, the government has failed to respond to the Union’s demands.
“Both the Federal and State Governments have a strong habit of paying little or no attention to the education sector in general and the welfare of university academics in particular,” the statement read.
If the government fails to act within the two-week ultimatum, ASUU warned that it would embark on a two-week warning strike, followed by a total and indefinite strike if necessary.
The Union listed its unresolved demands to include:
- Re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement
- Sustainable funding and revitalization of universities
- Ending victimization of lecturers at LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University), and FUTO
- Payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears
- Settlement of long-pending promotion arrears (over four years)
- Remittance of third-party deductions
ASUU emphasized that these issues are not new, noting that they have been repeatedly raised at the national, zonal, and branch levels for over 16 years.
While stressing that the Nigerian government has both the capacity and financial strength to resolve the crisis, the Union called on students, parents, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to prevail on the government to avert the looming strike.
“The 14-day ultimatum is an alarm to the Nigerian Government. A stitch in time saves nine,” ASUU declared, vowing that “the struggle continues.”
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