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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to resume its suspended nationwide strike if the Federal Government and state governments continue what it described as paying “lip service” to its demands and the implementation of the December 2025 agreement.
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ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, said the union was frustrated by the slow and uneven implementation of the FGN-ASUU Agreement, which followed more than eight months of relentless negotiations and struggles to secure commitments on lecturers’ welfare and the development of Nigeria’s university system.
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The union acknowledged the payment of four months out of the seven-and-a-half months of salaries withheld from its members by the Buhari administration, but said the outstanding three-and-a-half months, together with unremitted third-party deductions, were subjecting lecturers to severe financial hardship.
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ASUU commended Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and the governments of Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Kebbi, Katsina and Borno for commencing implementation of the 2025 agreement, while warning that it would not accept blame if unresolved issues force another nationwide strike.
September 11, (THEWILL) – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to resume its suspended nationwide strike, warning that another shutdown of Nigeria’s public universities could be imminent if the Federal Government and state governments fail to implement their commitments under the December 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
ASUU President Chris Piwuna, said the union had become frustrated by the manner in which governments had handled the implementation of the agreement, accusing them of paying what it described as “lip service” to issues that were painstakingly negotiated and agreed upon.
Piwuna said the December 2025 agreement was achieved after more than eight months of relentless struggles and negotiations by the union. He expressed concern that, despite the efforts that went into reaching the agreement, several of its provisions were yet to be satisfactorily implemented by the Federal Government and many state governments.
According to him, ASUU had expected the agreement to provide a framework for resolving some of the longstanding challenges confronting lecturers and Nigerian universities. Instead, he said, delays and partial implementation were creating fresh frustration among university teachers.
Withheld Salaries Fuel Anger
The union identified the continued withholding of part of the salaries of lecturers affected by previous industrial action as one of the issues causing serious hardship among its members.
Piwuna acknowledged the decision by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to pay four months out of the seven-and-a-half months of salaries withheld by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He, however, said the outstanding three-and-a-half months had not been paid.
The ASUU president said the non-payment of the balance was subjecting affected lecturers to “untold hardship”, especially amid the difficult economic conditions facing workers across the country.
While appreciating the payment already made by the Tinubu administration, the union urged the Federal Government to complete the payment of the outstanding salaries.
ASUU said it would continue to press for the full implementation of the agreement rather than accept what it considers partial compliance.
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Third-Party Deductions, Autonomy
Beyond the withheld salaries, ASUU listed unremitted third-party deductions among its major concerns.
The union also expressed dissatisfaction with what it described as disrespect for university laws and autonomy.
According to ASUU, the effective functioning of universities requires respect for their statutory independence and the laws governing their operations.
It further raised concern over the declining quality of Nigerian academics, warning that failure to address the welfare, professional development and working conditions of lecturers could further weaken the country’s university system.
The union maintained that these issues formed part of the broader commitments that government must address to prevent another breakdown in industrial relations.
ASUU Praises Otti, Nine Other States
Despite its criticism of the Federal Government and several state governments, ASUU acknowledged what it described as positive developments in some states.
The union particularly expressed delight over the actions of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, in his capacity as Visitor to the state’s universities.
ASUU said Otti had created a positive impression within the union through his approach to issues concerning the state’s universities.
The union also commended Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Kebbi, Katsina and Borno states for commencing implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement. It urged other state governments to follow the example of the states that had begun implementation.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
